Family law
Supervised visitation
Visits in which a neutral adult, a professional provider or another approved person watches and listens while a parent spends time with the child.[1]
In more detail
California's courts list reasons a judge may order it, such as safety concerns, allegations of abuse or domestic violence, or a parent rebuilding a relationship with a child.[1] Providers must stay present for the whole visit, report suspected abuse and be ready to end a visit if needed.[1]
Varies by state
Each state sets its own standards for supervised visitation providers. Find your state’s rules.
Related terms
- VisitationThe time a child spends with a parent, often the parent the child doesn't mainly live with.
- Domestic violenceAbuse by a family or household member.
- Parenting planA document setting out how parents will raise their child after separating: how decisions are made about things like school and health care, and a schedule of time with each parent.
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Sources
The official documents this definition is based on, with the date we last read each one. Definitions are in our own words.
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Cite this page
MediationList. (2026, October 28). Supervised visitation: Definition. https://mediationlist.com/glossary/supervised-visitation/
APA 7th ed. A retrieval date is included only for pages whose content changes, such as maps, data and tools.