This is the next post in a series of articles discussing supervised visitation in Las Vegas, Nevada. My previous post provided an overview of the topics to be discussed throughout this series. In this post, I will address the circumstances under which a Clark County Family Court Judge may order supervised visitation. I understand that protecting your child is of the utmost importance. My office is available to assist you with child custody disputes and requests for supervised visitation. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
It is not uncommon for co-parents to disagree about the methods their counterpart employs when caring for a shared child. Minor disagreements, however frustrating, are not appropriate grounds for seeking supervised visitation. Squabbles related to bedtime, homework, or food choices will not be considered serious enough to justify an order for supervised visitation. Legitimate concerns that a child would be at risk of actual physical or emotional harm if left unattended with their parent, on the other hand, will be taken extremely seriously by the Court. When the situation is deemed serious by the Judge, an order for supervised visitation may be appropriate.
Parents may find themselves subject to supervised visitation under a variety of circumstances. For instance, if a child has been previously removed from a home by Child Protective Services on the basis of serious abuse or neglect, a Judge would likely not allow the parent unsupervised access to the child. A parent’s history of serious alcohol or illegal drug abuse may also result in supervised visitation. Other potentially dangerous circumstances, such as a history of domestic violence, serious neglect, or sexual abuse would likely lead to a supervision order. In contrast, situations with less serious, non-dangerous complaints will not result in a similar offer by the Court. For example, if a child only brushes his teeth once per day at his father’s house versus three times per day at this mother’s house, the Court would not only deny mom’s request for supervised visitation, but may also find her action frivolous. Wasting the Judge’s time for non-legitimate requests may backfire in such cases.
When a concern for your child’s safety and well-being is at stake, I understand the urgency to take action. If a true emergency exists, contact law enforcement immediately. In other cases, it is imperative to consult with an attorney to determine how your case may be received by the Court. If you need assistance, contact my office today to speak with a Las Vegas, Nevada family attorney.