Which statement correctly describes the relationship between child support obligations and visitation rights?

The statement that visitation rights are separate from child support obligations is accurate. In family law, particularly under New York statutes, these two aspects are treated independently. This means that a parent’s failure to pay child support does not inherently affect their right to visitation, and conversely, visitation rights do not hinge upon the payment of child support. Courts recognize that maintaining a relationship with both parents is crucial for the child's well-being, thus visitation rights are upheld regardless of financial disputes.

Other options indicate incorrect perceptions of how these rights and obligations interact. For instance, denying visitation rights due to unpaid support undermines the importance of a parent-child relationship, which is a priority in custody considerations. Additionally, the notion that only the custodial parent has visitation rights fails to recognize that non-custodial parents generally retain rights to visitation unless the court has specifically determined otherwise due to safety or welfare concerns. In summary, the separation of visitation rights from child support obligations underlines the principle that a child’s relationship with both parents should be encouraged, irrespective of financial disputes.