Supervised Visitation in Atlanta, GA
Georgia family law promotes the idea that children should have as much time with each of their parents as possible. However, all decisions regarding children are made based on what serves the children’s best interests. Sometimes spending time alone with a parent may pose a risk to the child. In such cases, a family court may order a neutral third party to be present at visits.
Supervised visitation in Atlanta, GA can be ordered for a number of reasons. If you believe your co-parent may not provide your children a safe or wholesome environment, contact an experienced visitation attorney.
Our team can also help you when your co-parent accuses you of being a threat to your children. In either case, one of our legal professionals can explain why a court might order supervised visitation, how it works, and how to achieve your goals.
When Do Family Courts Order Supervised Visits?
Family law strongly emphasizes preserving and nurturing the bonds each parent has with their child even when the parents live apart. However, in some situations, the children’s well-being demands that a third party be present during the parent-child interactions.
The Official Code of Georgia §19-9-7 allows judges to order supervised visitation when a parent has a history of family violence. In most cases, an Atlanta, Georgia family court will order a parent to seek counseling and other appropriate care and allow supervised visitation while the parent works on their problem.
Parents may receive supervised visitation when they have a history of substance misuse or untreated or uncontrolled mental health disorders. Additionally, a family judge might determine a parent with a history of violent criminal activity cannot provide a safe environment for children and order supervised visits.
How Supervision Works
When a judge decides that supervised visitation is warranted, they have broad discretion in deciding the details. The judge can set a schedule and duration for the supervised visits. The judge might also include orders about who can supervise, whether the visits may be in a public environment and similar issues.
The person who supervises is usually a social worker or trained specialist. In rare cases, a judge might approve a family member or trusted family friend to supervise. Visits usually are not at the parent’s home but in a public place like a park, restaurant, library, or space run by a social services agency and dedicated to supervised visits.
The person supervising the visits is there as an observer and only intervenes if there is concern about the children’s wellbeing. However, the supervisor takes notes and reports back to the court. When visits go well for a substantial period, a parent could request that the court lift the supervision requirement. Our Atlanta legal team can help a parent petition the court for a change in the supervised visitation order.
Unwarranted Requests May Backfire
Parents sometimes let bitterness affect their judgment. They may make false or exaggerated accusations against the other parent and ask that the co-parent receive no visitation or supervised visitation only. They do this out of a sense of personal grievance, not a legitimate concern about the safety of their children.
A judge may hold these attempts against the complaining parent. When one parent makes false claims against the other, that parent is not acting in their children’s best interests. A judge could determine that the accusing parent is not capable of co-parenting effectively and grant custody to the other parent.
Any parent who is concerned about their children’s safety with the co-parent should discuss the situation frankly with one of our firm’s legal professionals. They can review the evidence and counsel the concerned Atlanta, GA parent about how best to proceed to protect the children and whether supervised visits are appropriate for their circumstances.
Get Advice From an Atlanta, GA Attorney When Supervised Visitation Is an Issue
A nourishing relationship with both parents is critical to children’s development and self-worth. When one parent is unable to provide a safe and wholesome environment, judges typically award supervised visitation rather than denying the parent contact with the children.
It is essential to work with a skilled and experienced legal professional if supervised visitation in Atlanta, GA could be an issue in custody proceedings involving your children. Sound legal advice can protect both parents’ relationships with the children while keeping them safe. Get in touch today.
