Supervised visitation allows a parent to spend time with their child — when that child normally lives with the other parent — as long as someone else is there at the same time. That person could be a social worker or some other official, or it could just be the other parent. Every case is unique and depends on the situation.
If you’re thinking about this as you go through your own divorce, you may be wondering why the court would use supervised visitation. What pushes them to take this step?
The child’s health and safety matter most
Overall, all the court’s decisions are about the child’s health and safety. The court will not put the child in a dangerous situation intentionally. If there is concern that being alone with one parent could be dangerous, supervision may be deemed necessary.
This doesn’t always mean there is a history of abuse; those convicted of abuse may not be able to see their children at all. It often involves parents who love their children but lead lives that are not the safest.
For instance, perhaps your spouse has a history of drunk driving convictions. You’re worried that they’ll drive under the influence with your child. Since struggling with alcoholism doesn’t mean a person should be entirely cut off from their child, the court may use supervised visitation as a way to allow your ex to spend time with the child without exposing your child to risk.
Every child custody situation is unique
Again, each custody situation is unique. If yours has been growing complicated, just make sure you understand all of the legal options you have. An experienced child custody attorney can help you better understand your particular situation and what steps you can take to improve your position.
