Seven Things You Need To Know About New Jersey Supervised Parenting Time

Parenting after a separation or divorce can be challenging, especially when there are concerns about the safety or well-being of a child. In such cases, supervised parenting time may be ordered by the court or agreed upon by the parents. Supervised parenting time ensures that a child can maintain a relationship with a non-custodial parent in a safe and controlled environment. If you’re navigating this situation, here are 10 essential things you need to know about supervised parenting time.

Understanding What is Meant by New Jersey Supervised Parenting Time

Supervised parenting time is a court-ordered or agreed-upon arrangement where a non-custodial parent spends time with their child under the supervision of a third party. This third party could be a professional supervisor, a trusted family member, or a friend. The goal is to ensure the child’s safety and well-being while allowing the parent and child to maintain a relationship.

Understanding When New Jersey Supervised Parenting Time Might be Ordered

Whether or not supervised parenting time will be ordered in a particular case depends upon the specific facts and circumstances at hand. With that said, some of the more commonplace situations in which New Jersey supervised parenting time is ordered include:

• A history of domestic violence or abuse
• Substance abuse issues
• Mental health concerns
• A lack of prior relationship between parent and child
• Concerns about parental neglect or endangerment

Understanding Who Might be a Parenting Time Supervisor

The supervisor can be a professional, such as a social worker or a trained parenting supervisor. In addition, the possibility also exists for a court to permit what can be considered a non-professional. Examples of such a supervisor might include ​a grandparent or family ​a friend. The court will usually specify who is allowed to supervise based on the facts and circumstances presented to the judge in a particular case. Professional supervisors are oftentimes required by judges in more high-conflict or demonstrably high-risk situations.

Understanding the Role of a New Jersey Parenting Time Supervisor

A supervisor’s primary role is to ensure the child’s safety and well-being during a parenting time session. A parenting time supervisor is responsible for:

• Monitoring interactions
• Intervening if necessary
• Documenting what occurs during parenting time

Keep in mind that supervisors of New Jersey supervised parenting time do not facilitate the relationship or act as a mediator. A mediator is charged with focusing solely on safety and wellbeing of the child or children.

Understanding the Duration of Supervised Parenting Time in a New Jersey Case

The duration of supervised parenting time varies depending on the facts and circumstances of a particular case. Supervised parenting can last for a few months or several years. The length of supervised parenting time is contingent upon the supervised parent’s progress in addressing the concerns that led to supervision in the first instance. In some cases, supervised parenting time may be a temporary measure until the parent demonstrates they can provide a safe environment. In some instances, supervision has extended through the entirety of a child’s minority.

Commonplace Rules and Boundaries Associated with Supervised Parenting Time

As previously has been noted, every case is different when it comes to the need for supervised parenting time. As a consequence, rules and boundaries associated with such supervision are different from one case to another. With that noted, there are some more commonly established rules and boundaries imposed in instances of supervised parenting time that include:

• Location and duration of visits
• Prohibitions on certain topics of conversation or activities
• Restrictions on bringing other individuals to the visit
• Adherence to the supervisor’s instructions at all times

Transitioning to Unsupervised Parenting Time

Finally, in many if not most cases, supervised parenting time is not meant to be a permanent situation. Indeed, the underlying goal is to transition the supervised parent into a status in which supervised parenting time no longer is required.

If the parent addresses the concerns that led to supervision, the parent is in a position at which that individual can petition the court to modify the arrangement. The court will evaluate the parent’s progress and determine if unsupervised parenting time is appropriate or if it can be ended.  If you have questions concerning supervised parenting time in New Jersey, call the Law Offices of Peter Van Aulen today at (201) 845-7400 for an initial free consultation.