When courts make decisions regarding the physical custody of children, they must weigh many factors. In some cases, the children may be able to spend part of their time with one parent and the rest with the other. In other cases, courts may determine that the children’s interests are better served in sole physical custody plans.
If a parent is not granted physical custody of their child, they may worry that without contact they will lose the important bond they have developed with them. However, parents and kids can stay connected through visitation. Visitation allows a noncustodial parent to spend time with their child in a scheduled format.
If the parents can agree and the court does not find any reason to deny it, a noncustodial parent may be able to secure unsupervised visitation with their child. This would mean that a parent and their child could be together without the other parent or a third party present. If a court had concerns about a child’s safety or welfare while with their noncustodial parent, it may deny this option to the parent.
A parent may also be granted supervised visitation, which requires the parent-child time to be in the presence of another adult. Therapeutic supervised visitation requires the presence of a mental health professional during the parent-child interaction to protect the well-being of the child.
Visitation rights can be a fulfilling option for parents who do not have custody of their children. Attorneys who fight for parents’ rights can help them begin the process of securing visitation and seeking more time with their kids.