Visitation rights

[rickmanswort]

My ex husband has seen our son twice since he was 6 months old and only because I have taken him to visit him for holidays.(My ex husband is a foreign national and lives abroad).
On the last holiday he was consistently late to see our son and left early and was generally not interested due to his new girlfriend also being there.
He has now come to England for a holiday to stay with his girlfriend and asked to see our son. I have agreed to a supervised visit with a family member present but he is now saying he wants to take him off and wants him to stay over at his house about 4 hours away. Legally where do I stand if I decide to deny access?? He has no input emotionally or financialy. What can I do?

[Psychick]

How old is your son now and is the father named on his birth certificate?

My guess would be that, although he has a right to ask you if he can have your son over night etc, he cannot insist on it and should really accept what you say.

He may be wanting more time with him and if he staying somewhere thats four hours away, this may be his reason for wanting him to stay over. If your son is at an age where he can say yes I want to go stay with my dad.......you really should consider your sons wishes. If he is still a baby.........then the choice is totally yours I would think.........and to be honest, if I was in your shoes, I wuldnt let my baby go overnight with people he really doesnt know enough.

[tiny e.a]

I don't know the law but I suspect the choice is yours in this case, and it doesn't sound like he's really in a position to get the law involved anyway. I think you're well within your rights to want his visits supervised, I know I wouldn't allow a child of mine to go on his own and overnight in these circumstances.

[888sally888]

I agree - I wouldnt like this situation. He cant just come along and expect to have him like that for the night.

You are right to offer a supervised visit only - stick to your guns and good luck!

[rickmanswort]

Thank you everyone for your support. I managed to see a solicitor today who has said that I can stick to my guns but if he wants he can go to court to get parental responsiblity and make things harder, although the court would probably find in my favour regarding a supervised visit.
I think I will stick to my guns and if he isnt going to listen the I may have to consider other options