Supervised visitation In Oklahoma requires an order from the court that is hearing your child custody case. If you’re navigating certain thorny custody issues in Oklahoma, you may encounter the term “supervised visitation.” Understanding when and why a court orders this type of visitation is important. Here’s an overview of how supervised visitation works in Oklahoma.
What Is Supervised Visitation?
According to the Oklahoma Statutes Section 43-110.1a, supervised visitation is a court-ordered arrangement. The arrangement is where a noncustodial parent spends time with their child in the presence of a third party. This third party, either a trained volunteer or a professional, ensures the safety and welfare of the child during these visits.
You might wonder why a court would require such an arrangement. Primarily, the court’s concern is the health, safety, and welfare of the child. In situations where there are concerns about the child’s safety with the noncustodial parent, supervised visitation becomes a viable option. This could include cases where there is a history of domestic abuse. It may also include drug or alcohol abuse, or if the parent has a history of mental illness.
Supervised Visitation The How And Why
The first thing to understand about supervised visitation in Oklahoma is that for it to be enforceable it must be ordered by the court. To get a court to order for this kind of visitation there must be either a hearing or the parents must agree to it and the Judge signs the order. If you cant get an agreement the Judge will require a hearing. The party asking for this kind of visitation will need to show that the other parent poses a significant risk to the child. This might involve domestic violence, drug and alcohol abuse or other types of behavior including protective orders that create this kind of risk to the child.
How Supervised Visitation Is Operated
Each county’s associate district judge can select trained volunteers or appoint a supervised visitation team. This team is responsible for identifying safe locations for visits and developing procedures to ensure the safety of all involved. It’s a thorough process, there to ensure that children have protection while maintaining a relationship with both parents.
It’s also worth noting that supervised visitation is not just a punitive measure. It can be a constructive step towards rebuilding trust. It does this by ensuring that the relationship between parent and the child remains intact, even though it is in a controlled environment. For parents working towards regaining unsupervised access, adhering to the supervised visitation arrangement can be an important step in demonstrating responsibility and commitment to their child’s welfare. At the conclusion of a period of supervision a parent can ask the court to modify the supervision.
Visitation Attorneys in Tulsa
Supervised visitation in Oklahoma is ordered by courts primarily to protect the child’s welfare. This is done in cases where unsupervised access could pose a risk. Tulsa Divorce Attorneys focuses on family law cases, including visitation and custody. Our custody attorneys provide guidance to clients through these complex situations. If facing supervised visitation matters, contact Tulsa Divorce Attorneys at (539) 302-0303 or reach out online for support.