Some families can cope with transitioning to post-divorce life, allowing parents to collaborate and follow court-ordered child custody and visitation arrangements. Other times, the household can have unique circumstances that complicate their situation. In some scenarios, the parents can have severe conflicts or face different issues that may risk the child’s welfare, compelling the court to intervene.
In these instances, a judge can help by ordering arrangements to protect the involved parties and allow parents to perform their responsibilities, such as supervised visitation. This setup helps the child spend quality time with their parent while another person monitors or oversees the visit. This arrangement is often appropriate in cases that meet the following conditions:
- There are allegations of neglect or abuse against either of the parents.
- An involved party is suffering from mental health disorders or substance abuse, potentially risking the child’s safety.
- A parent has proven tendencies or a history of inappropriate behavior or misconduct that can harm the child, such as fleeing with the child or parental alienation.
Other factors can be enough reason for the court to require supervised visitation. With enough supporting information, the court can find if one-on-one time between a parent and the child can be harmful, making this arrangement applicable.
Protecting what is most important
Parents and the court usually share a goal when addressing custody-related issues: the child’s best interests. They could suffer the harshest blow from the divorce, making it vital to take various measures to support and care for them. Supervised visitation might not be ideal, but it can help in sensitive and high-risk scenarios. If a parent believes other arrangements could be more suitable for their family, they could seek legal counsel to learn about appropriate options to adjust or modify their setup.