Child custody terms can be hard to come to, especially if one parent believes that he or she is better fit to care for the kids than the other. In some cases, a parent may receive sole physical custody of the children during divorce, and the other parent may obtain visitation rights. While visitation can work to ensure that the noncustodial parent still sees the children, the details of the court order can greatly affect how that time is spent.
In some cases, the court may award an Alabama parent unsupervised visitation rights. For most noncustodial parents, this is the usual arrangement as opposed to supervised visitation. Unsupervised visitation essentially means that the parent can spend time with the children without another responsible adult being present. As a result, the parent has more freedom regarding the activities he or she may enjoy with the kids.
When it comes to supervised visitation, the noncustodial parent has less freedom. The custodial parent may appoint another adult to supervise the visits while the kids are with the noncustodial parent, or the court may appoint a responsible party. In some instances, a social worker may be appointed, and the noncustodial parent may have to meet the social worker and the children at a specified location.
Visitation rights can certainly help parents stay in contact with their kids, and these days, some parents may even take advantage of virtual visitation options where they spend time with their kids over video chat or other means. Still, working toward the best child custody outcomes during divorce can be difficult for any Alabama parent. It is often wise for concerned parties to gain information specific to their cases in hopes of reaching the best possible terms.