Father Gave Up Visitation, but Wants It Back

[Mr. Knowitall]

Its quite standard and normal for a parent to have to start off visiting in a supervised manner.

It is in fact normal for visitation to start out without supervision. Supervised visitation is unusual.

We are not talking about a supervised visitation center here, we are talking about dad visiting in the presence of someone known to the child to start off with, so that the child gets to know dad in a manner that is comfortable for the child.

Supervised visitation involves visitation that is supervised by a court-appointed, neutral third party. Requesting that the first view visits occur, for example, in mom's home is not the same thing as requesting supervised visitation. But even if we move away from the actual definition, it is entirely normal for parents to be allowed to pick the time and place of their visitation without the presence of the other parent. To move away from the norm, you need issues such as a potential danger to the child, or the possibility of re-introducing a parent to a child who is old enough to comprehend that period of absence.

...since dad made his hostility clear to the mediator when mom was awarded sole legal and physical custody.

All we have been told is that dad told the mediator that he didn't want visitation. The mediator might be able to testify that dad has changed his mind, but that's pretty obvious.

It was probably written into the court order that he declined visitation.

That would be unusual, even if the court made such a finding on the record.

While that may not be evidence that the child would be in physical danger, its certainly a cause to be careful.

It is not evidence that the child would be in physical danger, or in danger of any sort.