Ensuring Effective Supervision During Child Visitations
Does your child have supervised visitation with the other parent, and you just don’t think the supervision is enough? Hi, my name is Carl Birkhead. I’m a Tulsa family attorney with Wirth Law Office in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I’ve been practicing family and criminal law for almost eight years now, and I wanna help you make law easy by just talking a little bit about what to do when supervised visitation just isn’t working.
Common Concerns with Supervised Visitation
This issue comes up a lot — unsurprisingly, it’s usually the parent under supervision who has complaints. They may not like the supervisor, the location, the time limits, or just the general setup. But concerns about supervision aren’t one-sided. The custodial parent may also have issues with how it’s being handled. They might feel the supervisor isn’t paying enough attention or that the environment isn’t safe.
In some cases, red flags start popping up — like a child coming home smelling like marijuana, being unbathed, saying they haven’t eaten, or mentioning that the assigned supervisor left them unattended. For example, we’ve seen cases where a family member was supposed to supervise but instead left for the casino, leaving the child alone with the parent. These are all warning signs that the current supervision arrangement might not be working, and it may be time to reevaluate.
Exploring Options for Supervision Adjustments
If nonprofessional supervision isn’t effective, one option is to request the court to upgrade to professional supervision. This means hiring a paid supervisor, which introduces a financial cost. Who pays for this depends on the circumstances. If the noncustodial parent’s actions led to the need for increased supervision, the court may require them to cover the full cost. In other cases, the court might order both parents to split the expenses. Sometimes, if one parent insists on professional supervision, the court may require them to pay for it upfront and only get reimbursed if the other parent fails to follow the rules during visits.
Ultimately, whether supervision needs to be adjusted depends on the specifics of the situation. If you believe the current arrangement isn’t working and needs to be reevaluated, let’s talk. We can help you determine the best path forward to ensure your child’s safety and well-being.
Schedule a Low-Cost Initial Strategy Session
My name is Carl Birkhead. I’m a Tulsa visitation attorney with Wirth Law Office, and I want to help you make law easy. If you’re experiencing issues with supervised visitation and would like to discuss your options, please contact me for a low-cost initial strategy session. Call us at 918-879-1681 to schedule a meeting and ensure the best interest and safety of your child.
