Supervised Visitation
Supervised visitation is ordered when there are concerns about a child’s protection and safety. A judge will order supervised visitation so that a child will only have contact with a parent when a neutral third person is present. This type of third-person visitation arrangement is often called “supervised visitation.”
What is Supervised Visitation
Supervised visitation is when the noncustodial parent can visit with the child only when supervised by another adult. It is used to keep the child safe and support the parent/child relationship at the same time.
If supervised visitation is necessary, the court will order it and it will be part of the parenting plan. The parents may also need to make a visitation schedule so that the supervised visits can happen.
How Supervised Visitation Works
If the judge decides that supervised visitation is best for your child, the court order will specify how the supervised visits will work. The judge may order the supervised visits to take place in a designated facility. There will be a monitor present with the non-custodial parent in the room for the duration of the visits. The judge may assign a social worker or a similar person to accompany the child to the non-custodial parent’s home (or other designated location). The designated monitor will stay with the child for the entire visit and return the child to the custodial parent. The judge may allow a friend, relative, or an acquaintance to act as the monitor for supervised visits if the participant is willing and the parents are able to mutual agree on a person. If this is an option for you, you will need to consider whether or not the person will be reliable and trustworthy.
Reasons for Supervision
A judge may order supervised visitation for many reasons, such as:
- To give the visiting parent a chance to address specific issues;
- To help reintroduce a parent and a child after a long absence;
- To help introduce a parent and a child when there has been no existing relationship between them;
- When there is a history or allegations of domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, or substance abuse;
- When there are parenting concerns or mental illness; or,
- When there is a parental threat of abduction.
The court order will specify the time and duration of the visits. Sometimes, the court order will also specify who will provide the supervised visitation services and where the visits will take place.
Click on the following link to download a California Supervised Visitation Order for Parenting Time with the Custodial Parent and the Non-Custodial Parent form which is used in California courts.
File Download (PDF File): fl341a – supervised visitation order
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