Child Contact & Visitation — Family Law Attorneys in Poznań
Child contact cases are among the most emotionally demanding in all of family law. Not being able to see your child, watching the other parent obstruct visits, or — on the other side — worrying about your child’s safety during contact with a former partner. These are situations where emotions and legal procedure become entangled in a particularly difficult way.
We assist both parents seeking to establish or enforce contact and those defending against disproportionate claims. We also represent grandparents and other close family members. We practise before the district courts in Poznań — Stare Miasto, Nowe Miasto and Wilda, and Grunwald and Jeżyce.
Tel.: +48 531 335 713 | kancelaria@prawnikodrozwodu.pl
The Right to Contact — The Legal Basis
Child contact is the child’s right, not a parental privilege. Under Art. 113 of the Family and Guardianship Code (Kodeks rodzinny i opiekuńczy, hereinafter “FGC”), maintaining a relationship with both parents is in the child’s best interests — regardless of how the relationship between the former spouses or partners stands.
The right to contact does not belong exclusively to parents. Grandparents, siblings and other persons who have played a significant role in a child’s life may also apply for contact to be established (Art. 113¹ FGC). In Poznań, applications by grandparents for contact with grandchildren are becoming increasingly common — and courts are increasingly receptive to them where the bond with the child is well documented.
How We Can Help
Establishing Contact
We assist with drafting the application for contact to be established, gathering documents and evidence to demonstrate the existing bond with the child, and representing clients in court — including at any hearing at which the child is listened to. Where possible, we work towards a settlement, because a parental agreement is always a better outcome for the child than a court order.
The more precisely contact arrangements are defined, the fewer problems arise later. A vague provision such as “contact every other weekend” leads to disputes. A well-constructed order specifies exact days and times, the place where the child is collected and returned, rules for telephone contact, what happens if the child is unwell and arrangements for travel. That level of detail is not excessive — it is protection against future conflict.
Variation of Existing Contact Arrangements
Circumstances change — children grow up, parents move house or change jobs. Varying an existing order is possible, but requires demonstrating a material change in circumstances. Simply stating that the child is older is not sufficient — it is necessary to show specifically how the change in circumstances affects the need for modification.
Enforcement of Contact Orders
Where the other parent systematically cancels visits, fails to return the child at the agreed time or obstructs telephone contact — there are legal remedies available. The court may warn the obstructing parent that a sum of money will be ordered for each breach (Art. 598¹⁵ of the Code of Civil Procedure, Kodeks postępowania cywilnego, hereinafter “CCP”), and subsequently order payment of that sum (Art. 598¹⁶ CCP).
The key is systematic documentation: keeping a log of every breach, preserving text messages and emails cancelling contact, and having witnesses confirm attendance. From our experience at the firm, parents who diligently document breaches from the outset are in a significantly stronger position before the court.
Restriction or Prohibition of Contact
Where the child’s welfare is at risk — through violence, addiction or emotional manipulation — the court may restrict contact, order it to take place under the supervision of a court officer (kurator), or prohibit it altogether (Arts. 113² and 113³ FGC). This requires specific, documented evidence of risk. A court will not restrict contact simply because the parents dislike each other — there must be a genuine threat to the child.
Supervised contact is often a temporary measure, providing space for a relationship to be gradually rebuilt in safe conditions.
Shared Custody (Opieka naprzemienna)
Shared custody — where the child lives alternately with each parent, typically on a weekly basis — is increasingly ordered by courts in Poznań. It requires certain conditions to be met: the parents must live close to each other (so that the child can attend the same school), be able to cooperate on matters affecting the child despite their conflict, and each have suitable living conditions.
It is not the right model for every family. But where the conditions are met, it allows the child to maintain an equally strong relationship with both parents.
Why Have a Lawyer in a Contact Case?
You can act on your own — Polish law does not require legal representation. In practice, however, contact cases have several features that make professional assistance particularly valuable.
First, precision of the application. The court orders what you apply for. If the application is vague, the order will be vague — and will be a source of further conflict. A lawyer knows how to draft a detailed contact schedule that actually works.
Second, the OZSS assessment. In many contact cases, the court orders a psychological assessment of the family by the Court Expert Assessment Team (Opiniodawczy Zespół Sądowych Specjalistów, OZSS). The content of that opinion — which often determines the outcome of the case — depends on how the evidential questions are framed and how the client prepares for the psychological examination.
Third, parental alienation. Where a child is being influenced by one parent and expresses reluctance to have contact with the other, the situation is particularly challenging. The court examines whether the child’s resistance is genuine or induced. This requires specific arguments and familiarity with the case law.
Fourth, enforcement. Even the best order achieves nothing if the other parent ignores it. Effective enforcement requires knowledge of the procedure and consistency in applying it.
Preparing for Your First Consultation
The first consultation costs 400 PLN and lasts 60–90 minutes. You do not need to arrive with a full set of documents or a precise list of demands — that is what the lawyer is there for. It does help, however, to think through a few things in advance so that the time is used as productively as possible.
Start by putting together a rough chronology: when and how contact with the child ceased, what caused it, whether there is already a court order or agreement regulating contact, and whether it has been complied with. If you have documents — a divorce judgment, a settlement agreement, previous court correspondence — bring them. If you do not have everything, that is fine, but whatever you do have speeds up the analysis.
It also helps to think about a few practical matters that often shape the contact arrangements: where you live in relation to the other parent and the child’s school, what your working pattern looks like, and what kind of relationship — cooperative or difficult — you have with your former partner on matters concerning the child. These are not judgmental questions — they are the information needed to assess whether a settlement is realistic, whether the case is likely to go to court, and what contact schedule will actually be workable in practice.
If the other parent is obstructing your contact, gather what you already have before the meeting — saved text messages, emails, notes of the dates and circumstances of cancelled visits. You do not need to organise or annotate them — simply have them available, because they may be key evidence.
At the meeting we will tell you plainly what you can realistically expect, how long proceedings are likely to take and what the possible outcomes are. You will leave with a concrete plan.
Cases From Our Practice
Systematic obstruction of contact We represented a father of two whose children’s mother repeatedly cancelled contact visits, citing illness or other sudden circumstances. We helped the client document every breach systematically. The court warned the mother that 300 PLN would be ordered for each instance of obstruction, and after further breaches awarded a total of 2,400 PLN. Contact stabilised, and after several months of regular visits it was possible to extend its scope.
Shared custody against the mother’s opposition The father of an eight-year-old boy wanted to play an active role in his son’s life after the divorce. The mother argued that frequent moves between households would destabilise the child. We demonstrated that the parents lived in the same neighbourhood, had regularly cooperated on matters concerning the child, and that the boy had a strong bond with both parents — confirmed by the OZSS assessment. The court established weekly shared custody.
Grandparents’ contact severed by a daughter-in-law The grandparents had cared for their grandchild regularly for five years — three times a week while the parents were at work. Following the parents’ divorce, the daughter-in-law cut off all contact between the grandparents and the child. We demonstrated the particularly close bond through documents, photographs and witness evidence. The court established contact every other weekend, one day per week, and a one-week holiday trip once a year.
Supervised contact where abuse was suspected The mother of a four-year-old girl reported that the father was subjecting the child to psychological abuse. We gathered medical documentation evidencing signs of stress in the child following contact, witness statements and a psychologist’s opinion. The court ordered contact under the supervision of a court officer, twice a month for two hours at a time, and required the father to undergo anger management therapy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a contact case take in Poznań? Typically between six and eighteen months. During proceedings it is possible to apply for interim measures — a temporary contact arrangement that applies until the case is finally determined.
Can a child refuse contact with a parent? The child’s resistance alone is not sufficient grounds for restricting contact. The court examines whether the reluctance is genuine or the result of the other parent’s influence. In such cases the OZSS assessment is critical.
What if the other parent takes the child abroad without consent? This is a serious matter that may constitute child abduction. We treat such cases as a priority — both domestic and international procedures are available (including the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction) that allow for swift action.
How detailed should a contact order be? The more detailed, the better. It should specify exact days and times, where the child is collected and returned, rules for telephone contact, what happens if the child is unwell, and rules for travel. Vague orders are a source of ongoing conflict.
Contact Us
Your relationship with your child is too important to risk a weak order or ineffective enforcement. We assist parents and grandparents across Greater Poland — in person in Poznań and remotely.
Kancelaria Prawa Rodzinnego Adwokat Michalina Koligot, Adwokat Marta Krzyżanowicz, Adwokat Anna Konrady, Radca Prawny Joanna Jędrzejewska
ul. Mickiewicza 18a/3, 60-834 Poznań Tel.: +48 531 335 713 kancelaria@prawnikodrozwodu.pl | prawnikodrozwodu.pl
Office hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00–16:00 Consultations in person and online. First consultation: 400 PLN.
This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Legal information current as of January 2026.