When can a court order that parenting time be supervised?
A court can order that parenting time be supervised when there are concerns about a child's safety or well-being in the care of a parent. Common reasons include a history of domestic violence or abuse, substance use issues, mental health concerns that impair parenting, a parent who is largely unknown to the young child, or a parent who has been absent for an extended period and needs to rebuild the relationship.
Supervised parenting time can be arranged in different ways. Supervision might be done by a trusted third party (a family member both parents agree on), by a professional supervisor at a visitation centre, or through services like the Supervised Access Program run by the Ontario government. The level of supervision can be graduated as trust builds — moving from professional supervision to a family member, and eventually to unsupervised time.
Supervision is intended to be temporary in most cases. A parent under a supervision order can apply to vary it once they can demonstrate circumstances have improved. Courts do not want to permanently restrict a child's relationship with a parent without strong reasons.
Key takeaways
- Supervision is ordered when a child's safety or wellbeing is at risk.
- Options range from professional visitation centres to trusted family members.
- Ontario's Supervised Access Program provides neutral, professional oversight.
- Supervision orders can be varied once the underlying concerns are addressed.