When is Supervised Visitation Used in Ohio?

 Posted on December 27, 2024 in Family Law

Nothing is more important than the safety and well-being of your children. Parents who are getting divorced sometimes have concerns about whether it is safe for their children to be alone with their spouses. If you do not trust that your child’s other parent is capable of being responsible for your children on his or her own, you might be able to ask the court to order supervised visitation. In supervised visitation, your spouse would be able to spend time with your child only when there is another appropriate adult present to make sure your children are safe. Supervised visitation is used when there is a safety concern involving one parent, but it is still in the child’s best interest to keep seeing the parent. An experienced Medina, OH child custody lawyer can help you fight to make sure your child is safe when he or she is with your spouse.

When Would a Court Order Supervised Visitation? 

A few reasons the court might order supervised visitation for one parent include: 

• Mental illness - If your spouse has a serious mental illness that impacts his ability to care for your children, supervised visitation might help him maintain a relationship with the children. However, there will be another responsible adult present in case your spouse is unable to behave appropriately around your children. 
• Drug or alcohol abuse - Intoxicated parents cannot care for their children. In supervised visitation, another adult can ensure that your spouse is sober when she is around the children. Supervised visitation is sometimes ordered on a temporary basis for parents who are new to recovery.
• History of neglectful behavior - If there have been several incidents where your spouse failed to provide adequate supervision or care, the court may consider using supervised visitation. While no parent can prevent all safety incidents or directly watch the child all the time, if your children have been left in dangerous situations several times under your spouse’s care, supervised visitation may be appropriate. 
• Criminal history - If your spouse has a criminal record that suggests she should not be trusted with children, the court may order supervised visitation. If any of your spouse’s charges involve child abuse or endangerment, your spouse is a sex offender, or your spouse’s record shows a pattern of criminal behavior, supervised visitation in a designated center may be used. 

Contact a Medina, OH Child Custody Lawyer 

The Law Office of Whitney K.S. Miller, LLC is committed to helping parents keep their children safe. Our experienced Medina County, OH child custody attorneys will fight for supervised visitation if your spouse may not be able to safely care for your children alone. Contact us at 330-725-4114 for a confidential consultation.