If one parent is deemed unfit to supervise and interact with the children adequately, he or she might receive supervised time-sharing. For instance, if the parent has a history of drug abuse or family violence, this might be the preferred custody arrangement to protect the children.

In some situations, a friend or family member can supervise the visits. However, a formal supervised visitation program might be necessary.

While the court typically orders supervised visitation, your child custody attorney can also help negotiate such a parenting plan. Through negotiation, the two sides can come up with an agreement that protects the child while still ensuring both parents have access.

Sometimes, parents start with supervised visits but can modify the agreement and get unsupervised visits later. For instance, a parent who has a substance abuse problem might be eligible for non-supervised visits after completing treatment.

If you are worried about your children’s safety during visits, speak to an attorney about your concerns. Then your legal counsel can go over strategies to keep your children safe.