When parents divorce or separate in Michigan, the court will issue orders regarding custody and visitation. These orders specify the parents with whom the child will primarily reside, the frequency of the other parent’s visitation, and the responsibilities of each parent.
Many Michigan judges believe that a child’s best interests are served when they have regular and unrestricted access to each parent. However, this is not advisable in every case. Sometimes, a court may order that one parent have only supervised visitation with their child. This order may affect their ability to form a meaningful bond with the child.
Supervised Visitation Explained
During supervised visitation, a noncustodial parent and their child spend time together, with their interactions monitored by a third party. The monitor will typically accompany the parent and child throughout the entire court-ordered visitation period.
Sometimes, the court requires that these visits take place in designated locations outside of the parents’ home. Additionally, monitors typically do not stay overnight. This means that supervised visitation periods tend to be shorter than traditional, unsupervised visitation.
Purpose of Supervised Visitation
A court will not order supervised visitation unless it finds that doing so is in the child’s best interests. Typical situations that call for supervised visitation include those where the parent presents a danger of abuse or harm to the child or where the child and parent have not formed a strong, trusting parent-child relationship.
By requiring these visits to be supervised, the court aims to ensure that the child’s welfare will be looked after. The monitor also reports their observations of these visits to the court. Depending on their reports and other factors, the court may eventually lift the supervision requirement or further restrict visitation if necessary.
A Variety of People and Agencies Can Act as Monitors
The court has the power to decide who will supervise visits with the child. The following people are commonly chosen as monitors:
- Close friends or relatives of either parent
- The child’s therapist
- A third-party counselor, social worker, or mental health professional
- Staff at supervised visitation centers
- Employees of family service agencies
The parents can agree that a particular person will supervise visits. However, the court is not required to approve this agreement if the person suggested is ill-suited to the task. This might occur if the parents recommend someone who cannot provide impartial reports to the court or who presents a risk to the child’s safety.
Contact an Experienced Michigan Family Lawyer Today
Supervised visitation can be a blessing or a curse, depending on its impact on you. It can limit your ability to form a close bond with your child, or it may be precisely what is needed to protect your child from danger. In any event, having legal counsel help you with your visitation objectives is key.
Contact Gucciardo Family Law if you are going through a divorce or separation and have children. Our firm will help you establish reasonable visitation orders that protect your child and foster healthy parent-child relationships.
