Visitation Enforcement

Visitation Issues:

In child custody visitation, when parents divorce, in most cases one of the parents is given custody and the other parent is given visitation rights. The visitation schedule or “parenting schedule” can vary according to each parents needs. A standard visitation agreement allows the non-custodial parent to see the children every other weekend with holiday's split between the two parents.
For example, one parent will have the children on Thanksgiving one year and the other one will have the child the next year. Judges always determine the custody and visitation agreements. The standard measuring tool is "what's in the best interest of the child." In recent years, judges have been just as agreeable to awarding custody to the fathers and visitation rights to the mothers. In addition now, the courts are coming up with what they are now calling Parenting Schedules that allow for a better connotation than non-custodial or custodial parent.
Even grandparents have been awarded visitation rights as have stepparents who had a close bond with the child at the time they were married to the child's parent. Again, as long as the judge finds the visitation is in the best interest of the child, visitation is often awarded in these circumstances.

Most visitation orders state that the possession order for the children’s visits and holidays are agreed upon by both parties. If both parties agree to make modifications along the way it is fine however, the standard possession order is a court order signed by a judge to be followed in the event the parents/parties begin to disagree. It gives a fall back on order for the purpose of upholding both parties’ rights to see the children.

Supervised Visitation is when the courts have proven evidence that one party cannot be trusted to do what is in the best interest of the children. Usually, an order of this nature has a proven history of the “supervised” party not acting in the best interest or
Caring for the children while in their possession. There are several ways to handle this type of visitation;

1. Look for an agency that does on site supervision. These agencies will typically be included in the visit, they will document for court purposes, they may have security on site, and a playground and or playroom with media comforts for older children. There is typically times set out for both parties to drop off without having to run into each other.
2. If the visit is just in need of supervised drop off, there are agencies that just allow for exchange as well. You can also use your local police station. There are branch police stations in each area of your city. You can drop off and pick up there but they will not document anything or get involved unless the law is being broke. They will not allow fighting, arguing, or any other behavior not allowed in public. Just understand, they are not going to document the visits or go to court as a third party as would an agency. This service of course is free where an agency will either charge on a sliding scale, or have a set fee. After undergoing an intake you will find out how much you will be responsible for. You must also understand, unless outlined in your court order, this fee is OUTSIDE of child support, or any other monies ordered to be paid by the parties. This is a fee that has to specifically by addressed in the order OR each party is responsible for their own fees.