Father seeks Christmas visitation rights for son amid ongoing custody dispute

The recent court hearing regarding visitation rights for a three-year-old boy, Ashton, highlighted ongoing disputes between his parents, Matthew Fenton and his ex-partner, Miss Hewitt. The session, held on December 19, 2024, focused on Fenton's request for visitation over Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, following a Thanksgiving visitation that he was unable to attend.

Fenton's attorney presented evidence that, since the original visitation order began on August 31, he had only been allowed to see Ashton for eight out of a possible sixteen days. The court heard that the visitation schedule was initially set for every other weekend, transitioning to unsupervised visits on weekends after a 90-day period. Fenton expressed his eagerness to spend time with Ashton, noting that the child is excited to see him during their visits.

During the hearing, Fenton described his interactions with Ashton, emphasizing that while the child is mostly nonverbal, he is able to understand and respond to his needs. He also mentioned that he has been able to take Ashton out of Miss Hewitt's home with her consent during some visits, including trips to the park.

Looking ahead to Christmas, Fenton shared his plans to celebrate with family, including his mother and sister, and expressed his desire to provide gifts for Ashton, which he was unable to do during Thanksgiving due to visitation restrictions.

The court's decision on the Christmas visitation request remains pending, but the discussions underscored the complexities of co-parenting and the emotional stakes involved for both parents and their child.