Supervised Visitation

When dealing with custody disputes, the Texas courts make decisions based on what is in a child’s best interests, which in most instances, means keeping the parent-child relationship intact. In some instances, though, the courts may find that a parent is not fit to be alone with their child. If this is the case, the court may order supervised visitation so that the parent and child can continue to foster their relationship in a safe environment. If you have questions about supervised visitation or your parental rights, it is in your best interest to speak to an attorney. The Dallas child-custody lawyers of McClure Law Group are proficient at handling complex custody matters, and, if you engage our services, we will fight to help you seek your desired outcome.

The Texas courts will only issue an order requiring supervised visitation if they believe it is necessary to protect the health and safety of a child. In other words, they will not impose restrictions on a parent’s visitation rights simply because parents disagree on how to raise a child or how conservatorship or access should be divided. For example, the courts may order supervised visitation in cases in which a parent has a history of engaging in domestic violence, even if the child or children the order pertains to were not the target of the violence or has a history of neglecting or emotionally or physically abusing the child. Supervised visitation may also be imposed if a parent struggles with addiction or substance abuse issues or suffers from a mental-health issue that creates a potential risk that they will harm the child. Courts will also impose supervised visitation if they think there is a risk that the parent will abduct the child.

The terms of an order requiring supervised visitation will vary depending on what the court believes is appropriate based on the facts of the case. In some instances, they will be very restrictive and dictate that a parent can only spend a limited amount of time with the child at a specified location, with a neutral third-party supervisor present at all times and close enough to observe the interaction between the parent and child. At a medium level of restriction, the parent may be able to visit with their child in the home. While a monitor must always be present, they do not have to listen to the conversations between the parent and child. In some instances, a court will find it appropriate to impose a low level of supervision, and the parent may be able to be alone with the child for brief periods of time.

The duration of an order imposing supervised visitation will also depend on what the court finds is required for the safety of a child. A court may order supervised visitation for a set period of time, or it might issue an order stating that it should continue indefinitely. If a court issues an order imposing supervised visitation without a set end date, it will usually continue until the court determines that supervision is no longer necessary. In other words, the issues that drove the court to order supervised visitation no longer exist, or the parent subject to the order has successfully rehabilitated any worrisome behavior.

While the Texas courts recognize the importance of nurturing the parent-child relationship, in some cases, it is necessary to restrict a parent’s visitation rights for the benefit of a child. If you would like to discuss supervised visitation in the context of your custody case, it is smart to meet with a lawyer as soon as possible. The trusted Dallas lawyers of McClure Law Group can assess the facts of your case and help you to seek the best legal outcome available. We help people handle custody disputes in Dallas, Rockwall, Fort Worth, Frisco, Irving, McKinney, Richardson, and Garland. We also represent individuals in family-law cases in cities in Dallas, Rockwall, Collin, Denton, Tarrant, and Grayson Counties. You can contact us by calling 214.692.8200 or using our online form to set up a confidential meeting.