David, J.
The concept of parents negotiating away parenting time as a means to eliminate the obligation to pay child support is repugnant and contrary to public policy. Attorneys should refuse to be a part of such discussion and should advise their clients that any such discussion is unacceptable. Here, an agreement to forego parenting time in exchange for relief from child support is declared void against public policy.
In addition, under the circumstances of this case, the trial court’s prohibition against parenting time is not supported by the record. Trial courts are equipped with a plethora of options and a broad range of discretion to tailor each decision to the particular circumstances. However, their discretion is not absolute. We reverse the decision of the trial court which prohibited the father from exercising any parenting time with his child and provided no means by which he could earn parenting time.
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We agree with our brethren at the Court of Appeals and with the majority of the states. Extraordinary circumstances must exist to deny parenting time to a parent, which necessarily denies the same to the child. If the trial court finds such extraordinary circumstances do exist, then the trial court shall make specific findings regarding its conclusion that parenting time would endanger the child’s physical health or significantly impair the child’s emotional development. Therefore, the focus now shifts to whether there were specific findings of egregious or extraordinary circumstances that support the court’s denial of Father’s parenting time.
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Dickson, C.J., and Massa and Rush, J.J., concur.
Rucker, J., concurs in result.