It is no secret that emotions can run high when a divorce is pending. But what does one spouse do when the other is making things difficult? The divorce process is already complicated without one spouse frustrating the situation even more.

The temptation may just be to respond in the same way. But is that going to help anyone including the children involved? One man, frustrated by the way his estranged wife was treating him regarding the visitation schedule, wondered the same thing.

After a divorce is finalized, child custody, child support, and visitation decisions are reached and agreements are made. Parents who stray from the court-ordered agreements can face legal sanctions. But what about the time between the divorce filling and the actual court appearance?

The man mentioned above found that during that time, his estranged wife decided to keep him from seeing their children. He found that she wouldn't agree to a set schedule for him to visit them and did not make accommodations for them to see him on holidays and birthdays. Despite his attempts to contact her and get her new address, she would refuse him visits. He was not sure how to get through to her.

Other parents experience this type of exasperation as well. In some instances, one parent will think that they are the best parent for their children and refuse to let the other parent get involved. This sometimes is to the detriment of the children. Courts look to the best interests of the child and often that means continuing relationships with both the mother and the father.

When a parent finds that they have to fight with their spouse, it can help to try to work with the other spouse. Working together can help shift the focus to the needs of the children, rather than personal opinions. However if one parent is still being especially difficult, it is beneficial to speak with someone who understands the divorce process and knows what options there are to fight for visitation rights.

Source: MetroWest Daily News online, "Linda Castor: Surviving a divorce," Linda Castor, 31 May 2011