As a parent, your number one priority is the welfare of your child. The best interests of the child are also at the heart of every custody decision that the family court makes.
Generally, the court prefers both parents to remain involved in the child’s life, in as active a manner as possible. However, this isn’t always feasible in certain scenarios. Supervised visitation is one option that the court might consider.
What does supervised visitation consist of and when might this be necessary?
Reasons for supervised visitation
There are various reasons why the court may decide that supervised visitation is suitable. One constant is that the court will come to a ruling that protects the child. If for any reason, unsupervised visits would be unsafe then the court will not allow them and seek a different route. For instance, if there is any concrete evidence that physical or emotional abuse has occurred in the past, to either the child or parent.
The reasons for supervised visitation are not always because of safety risks. A parent may only just have found out that they have a child, and they’re looking to build a relationship. The court may decide that doing this in a safe environment and at a more gradual pace is better for the child.
How long does supervised visitation last?
Usually, supervised visitation is seen as a temporary alternative. For instance, a parent may be granted further custody rights once it has been established that the child is completely safe in their care. Or, supervised visitation may be lifted once it’s clear that an estranged parent is no longer estranged. Nonetheless, in exceptional circumstances, the court does have the power to make supervised visitation an indefinite condition.
If you have questions about your rights as a parent, then it will benefit you greatly to seek some legal guidance.
