What You Should Know About Supervised Visitation

Supervised visitation occurs when a noncustodial parent visits with the child only when supervised by another adult. This type of arrangement is set to ensure the child’s safety while also supporting an ongoing, positive relationship between the parent and child.

Situations in which a court might prescribe supervised visitation include:

• If there has been a history of emotional, physical or sexual abuse of the child by a parent or of one parent by the other parent
• If the parent has a problem with substance abuse
• If the parent has a mental illness that could be harmful to a child
• If there is a reasonable risk of kidnapping or abduction
• If there is a history of neglect
• If a parent has previously been absent from the child’s life and wishes to start a relationship

In most cases, supervised visitation is a temporary arrangement designed to create progress to unsupervised visitation, so long as certain requirements are met. Such requirements may include clean drug tests, ongoing counseling, anger management or therapy.

There will be a court order that outlines how supervised visits will proceed, and the judge will order the supervised visits to occur at a specific facility. A monitor (such as a social worker or other similar professional) will accompany the child to that designated location, and will remain for the duration of the visit.

For more information about supervised visitation and how the entire process works, we encourage you to contact an experienced Long Island divorce attorney at Bryan L. Salamone & Associates with any questions you have.