The relatives of a 10-year-old boy are very worried about the many fights he has been getting into lately. One of the relatives explained that the boy's parents separated two years ago and, since the separation, he has not seen his father.

She believes that the fact he is unable to have a relationship with his father is severely affecting him.

"My nephew and his father were very close when they were living together, and his father took a keen interest in his welfare," she said.

"Two years ago, my sister left him because she said she fell out of love with him. She took their only child to live with her in another parish. My nephew has not seen his father since the separation.

"Many times, I see my nephew crying and, when I ask him what happened, he tells me he misses his father. He was very close to his father, who took him to and from school while they were living together.

"I really feel sorry for my nephew and it breaks my heart to see him so sad about the separation of his parents. The teachers at his school have complained that he looks very sad in class and has been getting into fights with other children.

"I spoke to my sister about her son's situation and she told me she did not want his father to be involved in his life. She is now seeing someone else and she said the man is willing to play a father's role in her son's life. My sister became very upset when I told her that the substitute father was not going to help, because her son has a father who loves and cares about him.

"During the separation, they had agreed that the father would deposit a certain amount of money to her account for child support. He never misses a payment.

"I telephoned my nephew's father last month and told him that his son misses him a lot. I even suggested he should visit his school to see him, but he said that was not enough time to spend with his son. Is there anything he can do to compel my sister to let his son spend time with him?"

It is unfortunate that your sister is hindering the child from spending quality time with his father. You could encourage him to apply to the court for joint custody, so he can have access to his son.

If joint custody is granted, then the child could spend weekends and holidays with his father and he will become more involved in the welfare of the child.