When parents go through a divorce or custody dispute in Monmouth County, New Jersey, one of the most sensitive issues that can arise is parenting time.
In some situations, the court may determine that a parent’s access to their child should be supervised to ensure the child's safety and well-being.
This is known as "supervised parenting time".
Supervised parenting time means that a parent is only permitted to spend time with their child in the presence of a neutral third party.
This third party could be a trusted family member, a professional supervisor, or a designated agency approved by the court.
The goal is to allow the child to maintain a relationship with the non-custodial parent in a safe, controlled environment temporarily, while whatever issues that need to be resolved are, in fact, resolved successfully.
In Monmouth County, family courts do not order supervised parenting time lightly.
The New Jersey family court system is based squarely on the proposition that children benefit from having relationships with both parents.
However, there are some circumstances when supervised parenting time becomes necessary.
These typically include concerns about a parent’s history of substance abuse, allegations of domestic violence, mental health issues, or any behavior that could put the child at risk of harm.
Sometimes, supervised parenting time is ordered temporarily, giving the parent an opportunity to address the court’s concerns and work toward unsupervised parenting time in the future.
The process begins with a motion filed in the Monmouth County Family Division, typically as part of a divorce or custody proceeding.
If the court believes that unsupervised contact poses a risk, it will set the terms of supervised parenting time, including the location, frequency, and duration of visits.
For example, parenting time might take place at a local supervised parenting time center, such as "Healing Hearts" in Ocean Township, or it might occur in a more informal setting under the watchful eye of an agreed-upon third party.
It’s important to understand that supervised parenting time is not intended to be a punishment for the parent.
Rather, it’s designed to protect the child while preserving the parental bond during times when a parent is trying to resolve an issue or issues that are affecting his or her ability to parent adequately in an unsupervised environment.
Parents subject to supervised parenting time are often encouraged to take steps to demonstrate their commitment to the child’s well-being.
This might include participating in parenting classes, undergoing counseling, or complying with court-ordered substance abuse treatment.
For Monmouth County parents facing the possibility of supervised parenting time, having an experienced family law attorney is critical.
The rules governing custody and parenting time in New Jersey are complex, and each case depends on its unique facts.
A good divorce attorney can help present your side of the story clearly, advocate for a fair parenting time plan, and, when appropriate, help you work toward expanded parenting time.
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