If you have recently split up with your child’s other parent, you may be working through many issues, such as child support payments and depression. However, child custody and visitation can have a tremendous impact on your child as well as each parent. In Boston, Massachusetts, it is crucial for you to make your child’s best interests a top priority. Sometimes, supervised visitation may be preferable.

In some cases, non-custodial parents are only able to spend time with their children through supervised visitation. According to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, supervised visitation orders must include the supervisor’s name, the justification for supervision and the amount of time a non-custodial parent will be able to spend with his or her child, among other provisions. Supervisors must satisfy a number of requirements, such as not being financially dependent on the non-custodial parent and having the ability to monitor contact and intervene when necessary.

When the court decides whether or not supervised visitation is appropriate, it will examine the possible consequences of barring contact between a parent and child in comparison to the mental or physical harm a parent could pose to his or her child. Whether you are a non-custodial parent who has been falsely accused of domestic violence or you are a victim of domestic violence and wish to protect your child from harm, reviewing your rights and securing a healthy outcome for your child is essential.

This post was composed to provide information on supervised visitation and does not constitute legal advice.