What Does it Mean if a Court Orders Supervised Parenting Time?

 Posted on August 02, 2022 in Family Law

The idea of having to spend any time with your children under someone else’s supervision can feel humiliating and unfair, especially if the social worker is a supervisor and you are paying for their services. Yet there are parents in Illinois who are ordered to live with supervised parenting time every day, and understanding why this happens and what the court wants to see is essential for getting through this tough time. It is important to remember that supervised parenting time is not necessarily indicative of your skills as a parent and that, with the help of an Illinois parenting time attorney, it is possible to move beyond this stage.

Why Would a Judge Order Supervised Parenting Time?

Judges can order supervised parenting time whenever there is a question about a parent’s fitness or safety with the children in a particular case. In some cases, this concern is justified; other times, it is the result of false accusations made by a parent in the heat of a contentious divorce or custody case. Common reasons that judges might order parenting time include, but are not limited to:

• A concern that a parent might kidnap a child
• Concerns about drug or alcohol abuse
• A history of child endangerment, abuse, or neglect
• Criminal convictions, especially regarding crimes against children
• Allegations of child abuse

What is Supervised Parenting Time Like?

How supervised parenting time works will depend on the circumstances of each case. Some parents may only get supervised parenting time with a social worker present in a public place. Other times, a family member or friend may be the designated supervisor, and parenting time can take place in a parent’s home. The goal of supervised parenting time is to try to give children time with their parent, even when that parent may not be perfect. To this end, the structure of the environment and supervision will change according to the parent’s behavior and a judge’s risk assessment.

Contact a Wheaton, IL Parenting Time Lawyer

The goal of the experienced DuPage County parenting time attorneys with The Stogsdill Law Firm, P.C. is to reunite you with your children and get you the full allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time that you deserve. If you have had your parenting time restricted to supervised time only, consider meeting with one of our attorneys by calling us today at 630-462-9500. We will help you present a clear, honest representation of your parenting skills and commitment to your children that gets you back on track as soon as possible.

Source:

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=075000050HPt%2E+VI&ActID=2086&ChapterID=59&SeqStart=8675000&SeqEnd=12200000