Temporary Supervision
In cases involving child visitation, the judge may order supervised visitation if the non-custodial parent has a history of domestic violence, child abuse or neglect, substance abuse, psychological problems, or in situations where the safety of the child during visitations would otherwise be at stake. Supervised visitation allows the child and parent to have regular contact without jeopardizing the child’s safety or well being.
Typically, supervised visitation isn’t permanent. A judge might order supervised visitation for a few months, during which time the visitations will be observed. The observer or monitor might take notes which could be reviewed by the court. These visits can occur in a public place, the court, or at a designated visitation center in the community. At the end of the period of supervised visitation, the judge may revisit the case and decide whether to continue the supervised visitation or lift the restriction.
If the visits are beneficial to the child, the restriction might be lifted all at once or gradually while the parent enjoys longer, more frequent, and less restrictive visitation with the child. If the visitations don’t go well or the non-custodial parent does not address certain problem behaviors or improve his or her parenting skills, the supervised visitation could continue.
Not uncommonly, parents want visitation to be supervised without good cause or don’t consider how the supervision could affect their child. These are important considerations because supervised visitation places restraints on when and how the child and parent can spend time together and may impede bonding. It is important for all parents to understand that supervised visitation is generally a temporary restriction the court may lift when circumstances change. This is often in the best interests of the child.
If you have questions about supervised visitation, speak with an experienced New Jersey child custody attorney about your case. Whether you are seeking supervised visitation or disagree with the custodial parent’s request for supervised visitation, you can benefit from speaking with a skilled attorney. An attorney can help you understand your options and advise you on how supervised visitation works and how long it will last.
Do you have questions about supervised visitation? If so, Williams Law Group, LLC can help. Our skilled attorneys can help you ensure your child’s visitation is beneficial to his or her well being. Located in Union, New Jersey, Williams Law Group, LLC provides compassionate and dedicated legal services to Union, Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Morris, Monmouth, and Middlesex counties, and the surrounding areas. Our knowledgeable attorneys handle divorce and family law, child custody, and child abuse/neglect cases. Call our office at (908) 810-1083, email us at info@awilliamslawgroup.com, or contact us through our confidential online form to schedule a consultation and ultimately get you connected with an experienced New Jersey divorce and child custody attorney.
