Why the Court Might Order for Supervised Visitation

Blog Layout

Why the Court Might Order for Supervised Visitation

Admin • Jun 28, 2021

Mallet of the Judge — Springfield, TN — The Law Office of Joe R. “Jay” Johnson, II

Courts sometimes call for child visitation to occur under the supervision of another adult. The third party can be a family member or social worker. Below are some common reasons for supervised visitation.

Noncompliance

The court can modify the visitation schedule and call for supervised visitation if the noncustodial parent doesn't comply with the original schedule. For example, this may happen if the noncustodial parent repeatedly returns the child late after the visitation period. However, the custodial parent has to inform the court about the noncompliance for the court to act.

Child Abuse

Family courts consider children's safety and well-being first in their decisions. Therefore, anything that constitutes child abuse, negligence, or endangerment can trigger supervised visitation. For example, the court can order supervised visitation if:

The noncustodial parent doesn't provide the child with food during extended visits.
The court suspects the noncustodial of physical abuse.
The court suspects the noncustodial parent of sexual abuse.
The noncustodial parent takes the child to adult-only places, such as bars.

In short, a parent who places the child in danger is more likely to get supervised visitation.

Drug Abuse

A parent's drug use can harm a child in multiple ways. For example:

The child might start using drugs due to the parent's influence.
The parent might mistreat the child when intoxicated.
The parent might involve the child in illegal activities, such as drug peddling.

All these are possible since intoxication impairs judgment. Thus, drug abuse can trigger supervised visitation to minimize the effect of the parent's drug abuse on the child.

Mental Illness

A mentally ill parent also requires supervised visitation. A parent's mental illness can harm the child, mostly unwittingly, in several ways. For example, depending on the degree of the illness, the parent might:

Fail to meet the child's nutritional needs
Fail to meet the child's medical needs
Emotionally abuse the child

The danger is even greater if the parent's mental illness is unpredictable or they have a history of violence.

Incarceration

Incarceration doesn't automatically deny a parent their visitation rights. The parent can still visit with the child if the circumstances allow. However, the child will visit the parent and not the other way around. In addition, the court is likely to supersize the child's visit. The court can often only stop the visitations if the situation harms the child.

Parental Absence

A parent who has been absent from their child's life is also likely to get supervised visitation. For example, say the noncustodial parent abandoned the child and their mother a few months after the child's birth. If the two haven't interacted and the child is now ten years old, the parent is virtually a stranger to the child. The interaction between the two requires supervision until the relationship strengthens.

Risk of Child Abduction

Lastly, the court can also call for supervised visitation if it suspects that the noncustodial parent might abduct the child. You should suspect parental abduction if the noncustodial parent:

Has threatened to abduct the child in the past
Hasn't always complied with the custody or visitation schedule
Suspects you of child abuse (even if the suspicion is unfounded)
Struggles with mental illness
Struggles with drug abuse

Inform the court if you suspect parental abduction. The court will weigh the available evidence and decide whether it warrants supervised visitation.

Issues to do with child custody and visitation are complex and emotional. Get an experienced and understanding attorney to help you with your child custody or visitation battle. The Law Office of Joe R. "Jay" Johnson, II, has vast experience with family law issues. Contact us today for a consultation so that we can help you with your visitation problems.

< Older Post Newer Post >

Divorce contract on table — Springfield, TN — The Law Office of Joe R. “Jay” Johnson, II

Can You Seek Help Through Civil Litigation? 6 Common Cases

By Admin • 28 Jun, 2021

Need to address a wrong another party committed toward you? Use the legal tool of civil litigation. Know about six common types of civil lawsuits.

Couple having an advise — Springfield, TN — The Law Office of Joe R. “Jay” Johnson, II

Tips to Minimize Divorce Conflict

By Admin • 28 Jun, 2021

Divorce conflict can lengthen your divorce process, increase your expenses, and create long-lasting animosity. Learn how you can often avoid conflict.

Filing for Divorce in Tennessee

By Admin • 28 Jun, 2021

State laws govern divorce processes, and some vary by state. Ensure you know everything you need to know about filing for divorce in Tennessee.

Bankruptcy Chapters — Springfield, TN — The Law Office of Joe R. “Jay” Johnson, II

What Do the Chapters in Bankruptcy Mean? A Guide

By Admin • 28 Jun, 2021

To help you navigate bankruptcy in the most successful way possible, read a short guide to the idea of bankruptcy chapters and what they mean for you.

Woman removing a ring — Springfield, TN — The Law Office of Joe R. “Jay” Johnson, II

Do You Really Want a Contested Divorce? What You Should Know

By Admin • 28 Jun, 2021

If you think a contested divorce is the right option for your marriage, read our blog to learn about some things you should consider.

Calculator and eye glasses on table — Springfield, TN — The Law Office of Joe R. “Jay” Johnson, II

Bankruptcy Can Help Reorganize or Liquidate Your Small Business

By Admin • 28 Jun, 2021

If you run a small business with significant financial struggles, you may contemplate bankruptcy. Read this blog to learn about your options.

Couple facing bankruptcy — Springfield, TN — The Law Office of Joe R. “Jay” Johnson, II

How Will Bankruptcy Affect You?

By Admin • 28 Jun, 2021

Many Americans struggle with debt, and while some minor debt can be easily repaid, a high debt-to-income ratio makes it hard to keep up on your bills. Bankruptcy is a process that allows you to discharge nearly all unsecured debt such as medical bills, car loans, home loans, personal loans, credit cards, and lines of credit. If you think you may need to file for bankruptcy, but you are scared, check out how it will affect your credit score and report, as well as your potential for new loans. It Will Cause Your Credit Score to Drop Your credit score is based on many factors, but one of the most important is payment history. In fact, payment history makes up 35 percent appears to be an empty link with target https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/credit-education/scorebasics/what-affects-your-credit-scores/ of your FICO® score. Lenders care about your payment history because it shows them if you are likely to miss payments or pay bills late. If they determine you are too high of a risk, they won't lend, or they will give you a huge interest rate. When you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, the process is relatively fast, but it's not immediate, and while you file bankruptcy, your attorney will advise you to stop paying the bills. This can cause your credit score to drop a few points or a few hundred points. Once you are out of bankruptcy, you can begin improving your credit score again. If you qualify for Chapter 13 repayment bankruptcy, your attorney will still instruct you to stop paying bills. However, Chapter 13 bankruptcy takes years because you must repay some of the money. For this reason, you can work on boosting your credit score before your bankruptcy has been discharged. It Remains on Your Report for Years Bankruptcy remains on your credit report for years so lenders can see that you may be a high risk. If you file Chapter 7 bankruptcy, it stays on your report for 10 years, but Chapter 13 bankruptcy only remains on your report for 7 years. Plus, lenders may be more inclined to lend to someone who recently filed Chapter 13 because they did repay some of the loan. Even if you have a bankruptcy on your credit report, you can find lenders who will trust you. The problem is that they will usually include a high interest rate to offset the high risk of lending to you. If your credit score is still high, despite the bankruptcy, they may be more inclined to give you a lower interest rate. Even though Chapter 7 can remain on your report for 10 years, the more time that passes, the easier you can get loans at fair interest rates. During this time, however, make sure to work on your credit score and pay all bills on time. This will help counteract the negative bankruptcy, making it easier to get better loan terms. It Can Prohibit You From Taking Out New Loans While not a good idea, you have the right to start racking up debt again once you are out of bankruptcy. Chapter 13 bankruptcy, however, can last three or five years. That's a long time, and during those years, you may have sudden expenses, such as the need for a new car or some home repairs. Unfortunately, taking out loans during your repayment plan can cause major problems, especially if you neglect to tell your attorney. It may also impact your repayment plan since the repayment plan depends on how much you can actually pay without financial constraint. If you suddenly have extra debt, you may not be able to repay your debt. You may think you can just save money for a few years, but while in Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you are not supposed to have too much cash. If the courts find out you have a large amount of cash, they will most likely force you to use it to repay some of the debt. Don't be ashamed to consider bankruptcy. It can be what you need to finally get out of debt. For more information about bankruptcy, contact us at The Law Office of Joe R Johnson, II.