What to Know About Supervised Visitation

For most estranged parents in California, each spends time with their child according to the agreed-upon parenting plan. However, in some cases it is in the best interests of the child if a parents engages with their child under supervised visitation. At the Law Office of Bradley S. Sandler, our dedicated California family law attorney has helped many parents understand supervised visitation and how it may impact their family. To learn more about requesting supervised visitation or what to expect if supervised visitation is ordered for you, call or contact our office today to schedule a consultation.

When is Supervised Visitation Ordered?

There are many reasons why a judge may order supervised visitation of a child. This decision is always viewed through the lens of what the court believes is in the best interests of the child and is typically ordered when there may be an issue of the child’s protection and safety. Some of the most common reasons why supervised visitation may be ordered for a parent and child include the following:

• When there is a parental threat of abduction,
• When there are parenting concerns or mental illness,
• When there is a documented history or allegations of domestic violence, child abuse, child neglect, or substance abuse,
• To help ease the introduction between parent and child when there was no prior relationship,
• To help reintroduce a parent to their child after a long absence, and
• To help the parent address specific issues noted by the court.

Types of Supervised Visitation

If supervised visitation is ordered by the court, a neutral third party must be present with the child and the parent during all interactions. However, there are different types of supervised visitation that can occur depending on the particulars of the case.

One-on-One Supervised Visitation

This is the most common type, where the noncustodial parent and the child meet alone with the third party supervisor. The supervisor can be a professional or an agreed upon friend or family member.

Group Supervised Visitation

Group supervised visitation occurs when several parents and children meet together with multiple neutral supervisors. Group supervised visitation can include organized events or simply groups of parents getting together more casually.

Monitored Child Exchange

During a monitored exchange, the neutral supervisor picks up and drops off the child with each parent in order to avoid direct contact with each other. This method of supervised visitation is typically most appropriate when there is a restraining order against one or both parents.

Therapeutic Supervised Visitation

This type of supervised visitation uses a social worker or child psychologist as the neutral third party who helps facilitate the visitation between child and parent. Therapeutic supervised visitation is most appropriate when the child has substantially negative feelings about meeting with the noncustodial parent.

Talk to Our Office

If you have more questions about supervised visitation with your child in the Los Angeles area, call or contact us today at the Law Office of Bradley S. Sandler to schedule a consultation of your case.