If a court requires you to have supervised visitation, you may have questions about what your time with your child will look like and what rules you must follow. The process can feel unfamiliar, especially when you want to stay involved in your child’s life and follow a court order. Understanding what to expect can make visits easier to plan.
Here are some things you should know about supervised visitation in Louisiana.
What supervised visitation means
Supervised visitation allows you and your child to spend meaningful time together while another person stays present during the visit. The court approves the supervisor and sets rules to protect your child and others involved.
Supervision does not automatically end your contact with your child. The court can set limits that let you spend time together while addressing the concerns that led to the restriction.
When supervised visitation may apply
Louisiana courts can require supervised visitation when safety concerns make regular visits unsafe, or in cases involving a parent’s history of family violence or domestic abuse. The court can add other limits to protect a child from physical or emotional harm.
The specific reason for supervision matters as they will determine what restrictions apply to your visits.
How supervised visits are conducted
The supervisor stays during the visit and must follow the rules in the court order. In cases involving family violence, Louisiana law requires safeguards against abuse, threats, intimidation, abduction and humiliation. The law also limits who can serve as the supervisor in those cases.
Your order may cover details such as where visits happen, when they happen and who can supervise them. Follow those rules instead of making informal changes with the other parent.
How supervised visitation can change
Supervision does not always last forever, but you must follow the court’s rules before seeking different visitation terms. In some family violence cases, Louisiana law requires the parent to complete a court-monitored abuse program and show that more visitation would serve the child’s best interests without causing harm.
Review your order before your next visit
Supervised visits are ultimately enforced when it is the best option for your child, but it can be reviewed and changed if the situation improves. If you do not understand a rule or your circumstances have changed, review the order with an attorney. An attorney can help you understand your options and determine whether you need to ask the court for a change.