Some Kentucky divorced parents may face serious issues like drug addiction but still want to be part of their children’s lives. However, it may not be safe for them to be left alone or fully responsible for the kids, especially if there are allegations of neglect, abuse or domestic violence. Supervised visitation is one practice that can keep a parent in a child’s life when regular custody or traditional visitation may be inappropriate. Visitation is scheduled to take place in a specific location, like a specialized center, a public place or even the family home, with the presence of a third party, who can be a social worker or, at times, a family member.
In most cases, family court judges order supervised visitation when the parent may be considered unfit. Supervised visitation orders may be temporary or permanent, depending on the reason for the order. If there is an accusation of potential abuse, a supervised visitation order may be entered until an investigation is completed. If the parent is cleared, the order may be lifted, but if abuse is discovered, it may remain in place or the parent may lose privileges altogether. One of the most common uses of supervised visitation is when one parent is struggling with an active drug addiction.
Even permanent supervised visitation orders may be modified later on. Parents seeking to obtain regular visitation or shared child custody may need to show significant change in their circumstances, such as completing a rehabilitation program and staying clear of drugs for a substantial period of time.
Many families may face complex situations, but supervised visitation may provide parents a path to staying in their children’s lives. A family law attorney may work with concerned parents to seek an order for supervised visitation if they feel their child is at risk.
