The ultimate goal of the state of California when it comes to custody or visitation is to protect children and ensure their safety. The California Courts explain that sometimes a judge will order that a child only have contact with a parent when a neutral third person is present during the visitation. This is called “supervised visitation.”
Some reasons that a judge may order supervised visitation include:
- 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.
There are two types of providers for supervised visitation. The first is typically a friend or family member who is considered a non-professional provider. The second type of provider is a professional provider who is trained to provide supervised visitation services for a fee. The most important role of the provider is to keep the child or children safe during the supervised visitation.
Supervised visitation can be difficult for both parents and children. Even when it feels uncomfortable, remember that children can benefit from having both parents present in their lives. If you have questions or concerns about supervised visitation, please contact Morales Law, P.C. for a complimentary consultation.
THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE. Factual circumstances will vary and require specific procedures. We are Santa Barbara Divorce Lawyers. This is for informational purposes only and should not be relied prior to, or in place of, consulting with legal counsel. Morales Law, P.C. can be reached at (805)-422-7966 or at www.mysantabarbaralawyer.com.