During divorce, a lot of emphasis is placed on the welfare of any involved children. This is meant to help ensure that the best interests of the children are prioritized and safeguarded throughout the process.
Visitation is one of the key aspects of some families’ post-divorce arrangements, allowing children to maintain meaningful relationships with both parents while ensuring their safety and well-being. Supervised visitation may be considered if there are concerns about the following.
Mental health issues
If the concerned parent struggles with untreated or unmanaged mental health issues that may pose a risk to the child’s safety or emotional well-being, supervised visitation may be considered. This could include conditions such as severe depression, bipolar disorder or other mental health issues that could impair the parent’s ability to provide a safe and stable environment for the child during unsupervised visits.
History of domestic violence
In cases where the parent has a history of domestic violence, whether against the child, the other parent or other individuals, supervised visitation may be warranted. This precaution helps to ensure that the child can still have contact with the parent while minimizing the risk of exposure to further violence or trauma. Supervised visitation allows for the presence of a neutral third party who can intervene if necessary to ensure the safety of the child and the visiting parent.
Estrangement
Where the child and concerned parent have experienced significant estrangement or lack of meaningful relationship due to factors such as prolonged separation, parental alienation or strained dynamics, supervised visitation might be considered to facilitate gradual reintroduction and rebuilding of the parent-child relationship in a controlled and supportive environment. This approach aims to foster trust, communication and emotional bonding while addressing any underlying issues that may have contributed to the estrangement.
If you are divorcing parent and your ex is not stable, you may want to strongly consider seeking legal guidance to help ensure your child’s best interests are protected, including addressing concerns about visitation arrangements.
