Custody can get complicated, especially when the safety of a child is in question. In some cases, judges order that one parent has full custody while the other is allowed to see the child on a schedule known as visitation.

But when one parent's fitness is in doubt, a judge may require that those visitations be supervised. What does this mean, and what can you do if you've been ordered to have your visits with your child supervised?

The LLF Law Firm knows the laws regarding supervised visitation and regularly works with parents appealing their supervised custody rulings. If you disagree with a custody ruling, call us at 888-535-3686 or provide some details using our online form.

How Does Supervised Visitation Work?

Custody arrangements are court-ordered, with the judge outlining how much time each parent gets with a child. One parent may have primary custody while the other is awarded visitation, and in some circumstances, that visitation will be mandated as supervised.

If your visitation is supervised, the judge will assign a third party to attend the entire visitation, which will be held at a specified location. The supervisor, known as a monitor, will be in the room with you and your child during the visitation. The monitor will report back to the court on how the visitations are going.

Appealing Custody Orders

Supervised visitation isn't always a permanent arrangement. Judges sometimes require it in the early days, with plans to revisit the order at a later date. But sometimes, the order applies until the child reaches adulthood.

If you disagree with a custody order in Pennsylvania, you can file a Petition for Reconsideration, where you list the reasons you believe the ruling needs a second look. It's important to take a look at why a judge's ruling might be adjusted or overturned. Those reasons include:

• Due process wasn't followed in the previous hearing, including advanced notification of the date or a lack of accommodations
• You were not given the opportunity to state your case and/or present all relevant evidence
• The court failed to consider the facts as clearly presented
• The other party was not legally entitled to custody of the child

In the case of supervised visitation, you may simply request a second look at the circumstances that led the judge to rule that way. If the other party's reasons for requesting supervision were related to substance abuse, for example, you could bring evidence that you've been sober for a substantial period of time. It's important, whatever your reasons, that you prepare well in advance to give yourself the best chance.

How the LLF Law Firm Can Help

The LLF Law Firm Team has experience with child custody issues in Pennsylvania. We know how personal these cases are to all parties involved and tackle each situation with sensitivity. Whether you're going through a custody dispute and want to reduce the risk of supervised visitation in the initial ruling or you're ready to appeal an existing ruling, we can help.

Give us a call at 888-535-3686 or fill out this confidential online form. Someone from our team will be in touch.