Supervised visits

If you’re involved in a family law case with children in Washington state, the judge may find reasons to order that a parent’s time with the children be limited. This might include ordering supervised visits between the parent and children. A judge may order supervised visits:

• To protect the children from physical, sexual, or emotional abuse or harm by a parent
• To protect the parent with custody (the residential parent) from harm by the other parent

Supervised visitation should usually be temporary, to allow the supervised parent to address the issues keeping them from more time with the children. Supervised visitation may be permanent only if the issues are more serious, such as long-term homelessness, severe mental illness, or persistent impairment due to substance use. 

When and how do I ask for supervised visitation? 

You can ask:

• At the start of your family law case, in your petition (if you’re filing the case) or response (if you’re the respondent)
• Any time before the case ends (before it’s final) by asking for or responding to temporary or emergency orders 
• As part of the final orders ending your case 

Answer a few questions on Get Family and Safety Forms to get the right forms for your situation.

No matter where you’re at in the case, here’s how to ask: 

• Fill out and file a proposed parenting plan. Check the appropriate boxes in section 3 of your proposed parenting plan to ask for supervised visits. 
• Fill out at least one of the Attachments to the parenting plan, with your completed proposed parenting plan handy to refer to. Don’t try to create rules in the Attachments before putting in your parenting plan why you need the rules. 

Do we need a professional supervisor? 

Starting June 2025, a judge ordering supervised visits usually must also order that a professional supervisor does it. But there are exceptions to this. 

You might find a professional supervisor near you through the Supervised Visitation Network (SVN) or a court list of available supervisors. But it can be hard to find one in a rural area or when you’re representing yourself. Professional supervisors are usually paid for the time spent supervising the visit. The court will order one or both of the parties to pay the cost.

The judge may allow a non-professional supervisor if the supervised parent can’t find a professional due to income or where they live, and they have someone who they can prove can protect the children. The supervised parent can use declarations and other evidence of the supervisor’s past interactions with children.  

Whether your supervisor is a professional or not, both they and the supervised parent must sign a Supervised Visitation Acknowledgment, form #FL All Family 141, after the judge enters a parenting plan. 

Can we have a backup supervisor?

You can list in Attachment A anyone who agrees to be a back-up or alternate supervisor. A backup supervisor must sign the same guidelines as primary supervisor and supervised parent.

What makes a good supervisor? 

The supervisor’s most important job is to intervene if anything happens that might harm the children or residential parent. For example, if the supervised parent tries to whisper something to the child that the supervisor can’t hear, the supervisor should intervene and tell the supervised parent they must speak loudly enough for them to hear. The supervisor shouldn’t just observe and pass on information without taking some sort of action.

The supervisor must maintain a professional relationship with the parents and children (not try to act, for example, like an “auntie” or a “gramma”). The supervisor should never write a declaration or make a recommendation in support of the supervised parent or give opinions about changes to the parenting plan. The supervisor shouldn’t want or try to “heal” families. A good supervisor is a neutral monitor, not a parenting evaluator. 

Some supervisors take lots of notes during the visits. But their focus should be on watching the visit, not note taking. And their notes should be neutral. For example:

• Okay: The children sat on their father’s lap and watched a movie.
• Not okay: The children eagerly snuggled with their dad and happily watched their favorite movie.

Although the supervisor’s notes should be neutral, they should include actions by the supervised parent that raise concerns.