Supervised visitation in New York.

If you're navigating supervised visitation in New York, this guide walks through the parts that are specific to your state — the court that will hear your case, where to look for providers, what they typically cost in New York, and resources you can use today.

About New York's family court system

In New York, supervised visitation matters are handled by the Family Court (and Supreme Court for divorce-related matters). New York's Family Court handles custody, visitation, and child support. Divorce itself goes to the Supreme Court (which is a trial court in New York, despite the name).

What's distinctive about New York: New York City's Family Court is the largest single court of its kind in the United States. Each of the five boroughs has its own Family Court, with a high volume of custody and visitation cases each year.

Notable: New York City has one of the largest concentrations of supervised visitation providers in the country.

As with every state, New York judges decide custody and visitation based on the best interests of the child. The specifics of how that standard is applied vary by county and judge, but the underlying framework is consistent.

Why New York courts order supervised visitation

New York judges, like judges in every state, order supervised visitation when they want to protect a child's safety while preserving the relationship with the visiting parent. The most common reasons:

• Allegations or history of abuse, neglect, or violence.
• Substance abuse concerns or a parent in early recovery.
• Long separation or estrangement that needs gradual rebuilding.
• Mental health concerns that affect parenting time.
• High conflict between parents that makes exchanges unsafe.
• Risk of parental kidnapping or order violations.

Your order spells out the reason in your case, the type of supervision required, who pays, and how often visits occur. Read it carefully — most of your specific questions are answered there.

Finding a provider in New York

Professional providers and supervised visitation centers in New York tend to cluster in the major metros — including New York City, Buffalo, Rochester, Yonkers, and Syracuse. Families outside these areas often combine community-based supervision with virtual visits.

New York families typically find providers through:

• The Supervised Visitation Institute (SVI) national directory — search by your New York zip code. Our find a provider page links to it.
• Your New York attorney — family law attorneys in New York City and surrounding areas know which providers are reliable.
• Your local Family Court (and Supreme Court for divorce-related matters) — many courts maintain a list of approved providers, or have a self-help center that can refer you.
• New York legal aid — most counties have legal aid programs that help income-qualifying families with family law matters.
• Local domestic violence agencies in New York — many offer supervised visitation services free or at low cost, especially in New York City and Buffalo.

For a complete step-by-step process, read our guide to finding a qualified provider.

What it costs in New York

New York City costs are among the highest nationally. Upstate areas are more affordable and have a network of non-profit programs.

General cost ranges New York families can expect:

• Professional supervisor: $50–$150 per hour
• Visitation center: $30–$100 per visit (sliding scale common)
• Therapeutic supervisor: $100–$250+ per hour
• Supervised exchange: $15–$50 per exchange
• Virtual supervision: $30–$80 per session

For the full breakdown of cost factors and ways to lower the monthly spend, see our complete cost guide.

Getting a court order in New York

To ask the Family Court (and Supreme Court for divorce-related matters) for a supervised visitation order, you typically file a motion or petition in an existing case. If you don't have an open case, you generally start by filing a petition to establish custody and parenting time.

The exact forms and procedures vary by New York county. Your court's self-help center is the right place to start — they can help with forms and procedural questions, though they can't give legal advice. For advice about your specific case, a New York family law attorney is the right call. The New York State Bar Association's lawyer referral service can connect you with someone, often with a low-cost initial consultation.

For a complete walk-through, read our guide to getting a court order.

New York resources at a glance

• New York State Bar Association — search "New York state bar lawyer referral" to find their current site and referral service.
• New York court self-help — your county court website typically has a "self-help" or "family law" section with forms and procedural guidance.
• New York legal aid — search "New York legal aid" for income-qualifying assistance with family law matters.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline — 1-800-799-7233, 24/7. Can connect you with New York DV advocates who handle supervised visitation referrals.
• 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988 for free, confidential mental health support.

Next steps for New York families

1. Read the overview to understand the framework.
2. Learn the types of supervision so you know what your order requires.
3. Find a qualified provider in New York City or your part of New York.
4. Prepare for your first visit with practical tips.
5. Read the FAQ for answers to common questions.

A note for New York parents. The specifics of family court procedure differ across states, but what tends to help parents do well is consistent everywhere: show up to every visit, follow the order, focus on your child, and ask for help when you need it. The path back to standard parenting time runs through those four things.