Reference
Supervised visitation glossary.
Plain-English definitions for the legal and family court terms parents encounter most often. If you've heard a word that confuses you, start here.
- Best Interests of the Child
- The legal standard family courts use when deciding custody and visitation. Judges look at safety, stability, the child's relationship with each parent, the child's wishes (in some cases), and many other factors. Almost every custody-related question is ultimately decided by this standard.
- Custody Evaluation
- A formal investigation by a court-appointed mental health professional who interviews both parents, the child, and sometimes other people, then writes a report with recommendations. Evaluations are often ordered in contested custody cases.
- Custody Order
- The court's written instructions about who has legal custody (decision-making) and physical custody (where the child lives), along with any visitation schedules and conditions like supervision.
- DCFS / CPS
- The Department of Children and Family Services or Child Protective Services, depending on the state. These are the agencies that investigate reports of child abuse or neglect.
- Ex Parte Motion
- A request asking the court to act without waiting for a full hearing — usually because there's an emergency. Ex parte orders are temporary and the other parent gets a chance to respond at a follow-up hearing.
- Family Court
- The court that handles divorce, custody, child support, visitation, and related family matters. The name varies by state — it might be called Family Court, Domestic Relations Court, Superior Court, or Circuit Court.
- GAL (Guardian ad Litem)
- A person — often an attorney or trained advocate — appointed by the court to represent the child's interests in a custody case. The GAL talks to everyone involved and reports to the court about what they recommend.
- Lay Supervisor
- A non-professional supervisor — usually a family member, friend, or other approved adult — who supervises visits per the court order. Also called a "family supervisor" or "non-professional provider."
- Mandated Reporter
- A person required by law to report suspected child abuse or neglect to authorities. Professional supervisors, therapists, teachers, and many others are mandated reporters.
- Modification
- A request to change an existing custody, visitation, or support order. Usually requires showing a "substantial change in circumstances" since the last order.
- Monitored Exchange
- A more limited form of supervision where a neutral third party only supervises the hand-off between parents — not the visit itself. Often used when parents shouldn't interact but the visiting parent is otherwise safe.
- Neutral Exchange
- Another term for monitored exchange — the hand-off happens at a neutral location with a supervisor present, but the visit itself is unsupervised.
- OFP / Order of Protection
- A court order intended to protect someone from abuse or harassment. Sometimes called a restraining order. Often includes terms about contact with children, which may overlap with supervised visitation.
- Parenting Coordinator
- A neutral professional appointed to help high-conflict parents make day-to-day decisions and avoid taking small disputes back to court. Not the same as a supervisor.
- Parenting Time
- The time a parent spends with their child. Modern courts increasingly use "parenting time" instead of "visitation" to emphasize that both parents have a relationship with the child.
- Petition
- A formal written request filed with the court asking it to do something — for example, start a custody case or change an existing order.
- Provider
- A person or organization that supervises visits. Includes professional supervisors, supervised visitation centers, and therapeutic supervisors.
- Reunification Therapy
- A specialized form of therapy aimed at rebuilding the relationship between a parent and a child who have been separated or estranged. Often ordered alongside supervised visitation.
- Self-Help Center
- A free resource at most courthouses where parents without attorneys can get help understanding court procedures and forms. Staff cannot give legal advice but can help with the process.
- Service of Process
- The formal delivery of court papers to the other party. Family law cases generally require that the other parent be properly served before the court can act.
- Step-Down Plan
- A plan built into a court order that gradually reduces supervision as the parent demonstrates safety and consistency. For example: supervised at a center → supervised in the community → unsupervised short visits → standard parenting time.
- Supervised Exchange
- See "Monitored Exchange."
- Supervised Visitation Institute (SVI)
- A national organization focused on supervised visitation standards, training, and provider resources. SVI maintains a national provider directory parents can search to find qualified supervised visitation providers in their area.
- Therapeutic Supervision
- A higher-intensity form of supervision where a licensed mental health professional provides both supervision and clinical support during visits. Often used when there has been significant trauma or estrangement.
- Visitation Center
- A facility set up specifically for supervised visits, typically with toys, snacks, private rooms, and trained staff. Many are non-profits and offer sliding-scale fees.
- Visitation Order
- The portion of a custody order that defines when a non-custodial parent sees the child, including any supervision requirements.
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