When there are safety concerns during a custody case, California courts may order supervised visitation to keep kids safe while still letting them maintain a relationship with both parents.
At Primus Family Law Group, our team of California Certified Family Law Specialists has over 50 years of combined experience handling tough custody situations throughout San Diego County. Our compassionate attorneys know how hard these cases are on families, and as aggressive advocates, we fight to keep kids safe while protecting important family bonds. Here are answers to the questions we hear most often about supervised visitation.
Q: What is supervised visitation and when does it happen?
A: Supervised visitation means a parent can only spend time with their child when someone else is there watching. A judge orders this when there are safety concerns about leaving a child alone with a parent. This usually happens in cases involving domestic violence, child abuse, drug/ alcohol problems, or when a child has witnessed violence. The point is to protect the child while giving them the ability to have a relationship with that parent.
Q: What’s the difference between professional and nonprofessional supervised visitation?
A: Professional supervised visitation is when the court thinks there’s a serious safety issue. A trained paid monitor (someone the court approves) has to be present. Nonprofessional supervised visitation is for situations where the danger isn’t as severe. A family member or friend can supervise for free.
Q: How much does supervised visitation cost?
A: If you need professional supervision, you’re looking at $40 to $80+ per hour in San Diego County, and the supervised parent is usually the one who pays for it. Let’s say you get eight hours a week with your child at $50 an hour that’s $400 a week, or about $1,600 a month. For most families, that’s a huge financial burden. Our compassionate attorneys at Primus Family Law Group get that not everyone has this kind of money lying around. As your aggressive advocates, we’ll look for solutions that protect your child without breaking the bank. Sometimes that means arguing for nonprofessional supervision instead, or working toward getting supervision dropped entirely when things improve.
Q: What does a supervisor actually have to do?
A: A supervisor—whether they’re getting paid or it’s a family member doing it for free—has one main job: keep eyes and ears on the parent and child at all times. The child can never be alone with the supervised parent. Ever. Not in another room, not in the bathroom, nowhere. If it’s a family member or friend doing the supervising, they have to sign a legal document swearing they understand this and will follow the rules. Breaking these rules can get them in serious trouble with the court. Primus Family Law Group’s team of California Certified Family Law Specialists can walk you through what supervisors can and can’t do, help you find the right person for the job, and make sure everything’s done by the book.
Q: Does my child have to go to therapy if there’s supervised visitation?
A: Not automatically. The supervisor is just there to watch and make sure everyone’s safe. They’re not therapists. But depending on what led to the supervised visitation in the first place (like abuse, witnessing violence, or family trauma), a judge might order therapy for your child or at least suggest it. Whether therapy happens depends on how old your child is, what happened, what you can afford, and whether insurance covers it. The team at Primus Family Law Group can help you figure out if therapy makes sense and can ask the court to include it in your case when your child needs that kind of support.
Q: Can supervised visitation change to regular visitation?
A: Absolutely. Supervised visitation doesn’t have to be forever. If the supervised parent fixes the problems that caused the supervision in the first place such as finishing rehab, taking parenting classes, staying sober, or completing a domestic violence program, they can ask the court to change the order. You’ll need to show the judge proof that things have changed and that it’s safe for the child. Primus Family Law Group’s team of compassionate and aggressive attorneys have helped plenty of parents show they’ve turned things around. We always keep the focus on what’s safest for the kids while fighting for your parental rights.
Q: How can Primus Family Law Group help with my supervised visitation case?
A: Supervised visitation cases are complicated and emotional. Whether you’re trying to get supervision set up to protect your child, fighting against false accusations, or working to get supervision lifted, Primus Family Law Group’s team of top-rated attorneys are compassionate, aggressive advocates who understand that these cases affect real families going through incredibly difficult situations.
Call us at 619-574-8000 or reach us at www.primusfamilylaw.com to schedule a free 30-minute telephone or zoom consultation to find out how we can help protect your rights and your kids.