For most divorced or otherwise separated parents, visitation is a time for the noncustodial parent to nurture a healthy parent-child relationship. In some cases, however, the court can order that the visits must be supervised by a third-party. Supervised visitation allows the noncustodial parent to maintain a parent-child relationship without subjecting the child to any danger of harm that might otherwise occur if the visits were unsupervised.

In New York, there are two types of supervised visitation: supervised and therapeutic supervised. Examples in which a judge may order supervised visitation include:

1. History of domestic violence: if there is a history of domestic violence, particularly if the victim is the custodial parent, visitation will be supervised;
2. Mental illness: mental illness may lead to supervised visitation but only if the illness is such that an unsupervised visit might cause harm to the child;
3. Substance abuse: a history of substance abuse may prevent a noncustodial parent from being granted unsupervised visitation if the behavior of the parent may cause harm to the child;
4. Sexual behavior: when the custodial parent fears that the noncustodial parent will engage in sexual acts in front of the child, supervised visitation is appropriate.

If the judge orders standard supervised visitation, the parents have options as to who the supervisor is. The visits may be supervised by a child services professional, a childcare specialist, or anyone that both parents agree are fit to supervise the visits.

Therapeutic supervised visitation, on the other hand, takes place under the guidance of a mental health professional. The professional will both monitor the interaction and help guide the noncustodial parent towards a healthier relationship with their child.

If you are the custodial parent of a child and feel that supervised visitation is most appropriate for your case, an experienced New York family law attorney can help you petition the court to request supervised visitation.

At the Law Offices of Stacy Sabatini, Esq., we understand that divorce or separation can be difficult on a child, especially in cases where one parent may be abusive or unstable. If you fear that unsupervised visitation may be harmful to your child, please contact our office at www.sskfamilylaw.com today for your initial consultation. The Law Offices of Stacy Sabatini, Esq. are located in New City, New York, and proudly serves families in Rockland and Westchester counties.