| When parents divorce, in most cases one of the | | | | - Allegations of mental cruelty against the child. |
| parents is given custody and the other parent is | | | | - Fear that the other parent would attempt to |
| given visitation rights. The visitation schedule can | | | | violate the custody order by kidnapping the child. |
| vary according to each parents needs. A standard | | | | - In some cases where there is a great deal of |
| visitation agreement allows the non-custodial | | | | conflict between the parties. |
| parent to see the children every other weekend | | | | The supervisors may be a social worker but in |
| with holiday’s split between the two parents. | | | | many cases a family friend or relative observes |
| For example, one parent will have the children on | | | | the visitation. Usually the visitation is restricted to |
| Thanksgiving one year and the other one will | | | | a certain place and time. |
| have the child the next year. Judges always | | | | Denying visitation |
| determine the custody and visitation agreements. | | | | For a court to deny visitation to a parent, it must |
| The standard measuring tool is “what’s in | | | | be determined that the child would be harmed in |
| the best interest of the child.” In recent | | | | some way by continuing to have a relationship |
| years, judges have been just as agreeable to | | | | with the parent. This could be because of abuse |
| awarding custody to the fathers and visitation | | | | allegations or because of criminal or immoral |
| rights to the mothers. | | | | activity. In most cases, the court will not deny |
| In Georgia, grandparents have been awarded | | | | visitation permanently but will order the |
| visitation rights as have step-parents who had a | | | | non-custodial parent to meet certain obligations. |
| close bond with the child at the time they were | | | | Often a parent will deny the other parent |
| married to the child’s parent. Again, as long | | | | visitation rights. This is a violation of a court order |
| as the judge finds the visitation is in the best | | | | and the other parent can be charged with |
| interest of the child, visitation is often awarded in | | | | contempt. First, the parent who was denied |
| these circumstances. | | | | visitation must file for modification of visitation. |
| Supervised visitation | | | | Unfortunately, this can take several weeks to |
| A judge may grant supervised visitation in certain | | | | move through the court system before the |
| circumstances that include: | | | | parent has his or her visitation rights destroyed. |
| - Allegations of domestic abuse against the parent. | | | | |