When Is Supervised Parenting Time Appropriate in a Child Custody Case?

 Posted on November 17, 2021 in Child Custody

When a child’s parents are no longer together, they will need to determine how issues related to child custody will be handled going forward. Married parents who choose to divorce or unmarried parents who are separated will need to create a parenting agreement that details how they will make decisions related to their children and a schedule for the parenting time that children will spend with each parent. In some cases, a parent may be concerned about their children’s health and safety when they are in the care of the other parent, and they may believe that restrictions on parenting time may be appropriate, including supervised parenting time.

Situations Where Supervision May Be Needed During Visitation

While Illinois law presumes that parents are fit to care for their children and that they have the right to reasonable amounts of parenting time, there are some situations where a parent may believe that certain restrictions should be placed on the other parent. These restrictions must generally be based on evidence that a parent’s actions may place children at risk of suffering physical or emotional harm. Examples of cases where parenting time restrictions may be needed include:

• A parent has a history of domestic violence or has been arrested or convicted of domestic abuse in the past.

• A parent has a documented pattern of drug or alcohol abuse.

• A parent has been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

• A parent or another person in their household is a registered sex offender or has been arrested or convicted of sexual assault, sexual abuse, or other sexual offenses.

• A parent has been convicted of criminal offenses that may indicate that they would not provide a good example for children or that they could potentially place children at risk of moral harm.

To ensure that children will be protected when they spend time with a parent, a court may order supervised parenting time. During the time a parent spends with their children, a supervisor will be present to monitor the situation and ensure that children are safe from harm. In some cases, the supervisor may be a social worker, or an extended family member or another person that the parents trust may be able to provide supervision during parenting time at a parent’s home or another location. 

Supervised parenting time may also take place in public locations. For example, the DuPage County Courthouse provides a family center where a parent can spend quality time with their children in a neutral setting while meeting their requirements for supervision. If supervision is provided by the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), one or both parents may be required to pay for the costs of these services.

Contact Our DuPage County Supervised Parenting Time Lawyers

If you are concerned about your children’s safety when they are in the care of their other parent, Goostree Law Group can help you determine whether you can request supervised parenting time. We will work to help you create a parenting agreement that will protect your children’s safety and health. We can also provide you with representation and help you protect your parental rights in situations where you may be required to have supervision present during your parenting time. To arrange a free consultation, contact our Wheaton child custody attorneys today by calling 630-364-4046.

Sources:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/075000050K603.10.htm

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/documents/002005050K5.htm

https://www.dupageco.org/Community_Services/Family_Center/1620/