When do Massachusetts judges order supervised visitation?

Some of our more frequent Worcester readers can attest to the fact that not all child custody cases are a challenge. Sometimes, simple guidance from the courts is all parents need in order to come to a fair and reasonable visitation agreement that allows both parents to maintain a relationship with their child or children. But as you can imagine, some cases can involve issues that might make a resolution less straightforward.

These cases oftentimes involve concerns for the child’s wellbeing such as a history of domestic violence or the fact that one parent has a mental health issue that calls into question their fitness as a parent. These cases oftentimes require the intervention of a Massachusetts family law judge in order to do what is best for the child or children. In some cases, supervised visitation may be a necessary resolution to a child custody dispute.

Supervised visitation here in Massachusetts is ordered in cases where the court has reason to believe that the child’s safety or mental well-bring is in danger. The court may make the decision to require supervised visits between a child and their non-custodial parent to reduce the risk of potential psychological or physical harm. A judge will weigh the risk of allowing contact versus not allowing contact between parent and child, choosing the best outcome for the situation.

Although courts here in Massachusetts do have guidelines for determining when supervised visitation should be ordered, non-custodial parents may still want to make sure that their voice is heard in the matter. In order to protect their parental rights and maintain a relationship with their child or children, a non-custodial parent may want to obtain the services of a lawyer. With their help, a non-custodial parent may be more successful at getting supervised visitation with their child or children.