When a Pennsylvania couple divorces, the former spouses ideally work together to work out a child custody agreement that pleases all of the parties. However, life is often messy, and sometimes custody becomes a difficult issue. At times it becomes even further complicated when there is a reason that one parent cannot share custody. Here is some information about the purpose of supervised visitation.
According to Psychology Today, in the United States about 40% of marriages terminate due to divorce. When there are children involved, it is imperative that both parents make a real effort to provide environments that are as safe and happy as possible. This enables their offspring to bounce back for their best well-being after the divorce. Generally, it is most beneficial for children to spend as much time as they can with each parent, and that is why joint custody is so popular.
However, in certain situations, it may be questionable whether a child is safe with a parent. Until it can be established that there is a protected environment, the court may order that the adult and the minor spend time together until the supervision of a third party. This allows continued bonding while making sure that the child is secure. Supervised visitation sometimes occurs when a parent has a problem with alcohol or drugs, or is experiencing acute mental health issues that would make taking care of their child difficult. Other times it is ordered when there are allegations of abuse. And, threats of kidnapping quite often trigger a mandate of supervised visitation.
This information is intended only for educational purposes and should not be interpreted as legal advice.