That’s what a father from Freehold asked me last month.
He’s been separated for over a year.
No custody agreement.
No court order.
Just an informal schedule — when his ex “lets him.”
“She cancels visits all the time.
Sometimes I go weeks without seeing them.
But I don’t want to make things worse by going to court…”
If you’re relying on a verbal agreement, here’s the truth:
🚫 You have no guaranteed parenting time
🚫 You can’t enforce what was never made official
🚫 And one bad week can turn into one lost year
It’s not about “being aggressive.”
It’s about protecting your role as a parent — legally and permanently.
👋 I’m Steve Kaplan, 
a Monmouth County divorce and custody lawyer with 37+ years of experience.
That’s why I created Steve Kaplan’s Divorce Course —
a free, private video series that shows you exactly what to do
before things get worse.
You’ll learn:
✅ When and why court-ordered visitation is necessary
✅ How to get a fair parenting schedule — without making things ugly
✅ What NJ courts look for when setting parenting time
✅ How to protect your time and your relationship with your kids
✅ How to stay in control — legally, emotionally, and financially
If you don’t have a court order,
your parenting time can disappear — one excuse at a time.
👉 Enter your email in the box on this page to access the course now.
It’s free. It’s confidential.
And it could give you the clarity you’ve been missing.
