When Supervised Visitation is Necessary
Determining child custody is one of the most agonizing aspects of divorce proceedings. You, your ex-spouse, your attorneys and the court must determine what is in the best interests of the child. In most cases, joint custody is in order. However, in situations in which the welfare of the child is at risk, supervised visitation might be necessary. Trusting your case to a top-notch Irvine child custody attorney can prove to be an invaluable resource.
If a visiting parent demonstrates one or more of the following characteristics or behaviors, supervised visitation may be in order:
- Past physical abuse of the child or other parent
- Threats of violence against the child or other parent
- Threat of sexual abuse
- Incarceration
- Conviction of a crime
- Mental illness
- Threat of abduction
- Cohabitation with a boyfriend or girlfriend
- Drug or alcohol abuse
Supervised visitation allows the child or children to maintain a relationship with both parents in a safe and secure environment. During supervised visits, a neutral third party is present. The third party may be a friend, family member, social worker or agent of the court. A judge can determine if unsupervised and unstructured visits would endanger the child’s mental, physical or emotional health. The judge may also order the non-custodial to attend counseling or anger management classes. Your Irvine child custody lawyer can help devise and propose a successful parenting plan and present it to a judge.
Michel & Rhyne help clients across Orange County protect their children’s best interests during divorce. We understand that protecting the welfare of your child is the important part of the divorce process.