On behalf of Stange Law Firm, PC posted in child custody on Friday, November 11, 2016.
When a parent’s criminal record shows certain offenses involving children, courts will not grant them unsupervised visitation with a child, according to the Missouri General Assembly. However, in Jackson County, and the rest of the state, parents in the position are sometimes able to spend time with their children through supervised visitation.
When it comes to supervised visitation, there are many factors to consider. Some parents wish to retain a healthy relationship with their children, while other parents are concerned about protecting children from domestic violence. Even when courts come to the conclusion that domestic violence took place, children may still have the ability to spend time with abusers if courts find that such visits serve the best interests of the children.
When courts find that supervised visitation is required, they appoint an adult who is deemed responsible to monitor visits between a parent and his or her child. In some cases, a court may decide that supervised visitation is necessary over accusations of domestic violence alone. Furthermore, there are various factors that courts will examine when making decisions on supervised visitation, including any past occurrences of domestic violence.
For parents, supervised visitation may raise a number of concerns. On the one hand, some parents may have anxiety over their children spending time with a person who has committed a violent act against a family member. At the same time, some people are falsely accused of domestic violence and their lives are virtually shattered over false allegations. Regardless of circumstances a parent is facing, fighting for their child’s best interests is paramount.
