Visitation & Parenting Time in Indianapolis
Helping Parents & Family Members Get Visitation Rights
Indiana state law refers to visitation as parenting time, in recognition
of the fact that the periods of visitation are the noncustodial parent's
opportunity to fulfill his or her duties as a parent. Children do best
when they have both parents in their lives, even when the mother and father
do not live in the same household. Whenever it is in the best interests
of the children to do so, the family law court will award reasonable rights
of visitation to a parent who has not received
child custody in a divorce.
Whether you are interested in establishing visitation rights, protecting
your right to parenting time during a divorce, or need to
modify the existing plan of visitation, you can find help from an Indianapolis
divorce lawyer at Bowen & Associates, LLC. We understand how important it is for
you to play a meaningful role in your child's life, and we want to
assist you with obtaining court orders that protect your relationship
with your child. Contact us now for a
free case evaluation to discuss your options and get started on a plan of action!
Visitation Rights for Unmarried Fathers
It is also possible for a father to obtain rights of visitation when he
has not been married to the mother. If you fathered a child who was born
out of wedlock - but you did not sign an affidavit of paternity - then
you will most likely have to file a
paternity action in order to legally establish yourself as the biological father
of your child. Once this is done, you can then file an action in court
to gain visitation rights.
Visitation Rights for Grandparents
Visitation is also available under certain circumstances to
grandparents in Indianapolis. Provided that one of the parents has passed away or that
the parents are divorced, the grandparents on either side of the family
can petition the court for reasonable rights of visitation. The court
will review the situation to determine what is in the best interests of
the children, as well as what efforts the grandparents have made in the
past to have a relationship with the grandchildren.
Parenting Time FAQ
We recognize that parenting time is a complex legal matter that may require
further explanation. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to talk
with our firm for clarity. We want you to protect the best interests of
your children and will take every necessary effort to help you preserve
the relationship you have with them. We have, therefore, provided answers
to some of the frequently asked questions that our clients bring about.
Read through them for a greater understanding of your situation.
What is supervised parenting time?
If you are awarded supervised parenting, then the parenting time you have
with your child must be supervised. This is ordered when parenting time
with the child would seemingly endanger the child's physical health
or could impair his or her emotional development. If the situation improves,
supervised parenting time can be upgraded to unsupervised parenting time.
The court can order any of the following parties to oversee the parenting time:
- Social service agency
- Juvenile court staff
- Local probation department
- Private agency
- Another trusted individual
Can parenting time orders be modified?
Yes, parenting time orders can be changed in many different situations.
You will need to file a motion to modify the parenting time order and
will have to prove to a judge that a significant change of circumstances
has occurred.
What is "reasonable visitation?"
If the judge determined that you or your spouse is entitled to "reasonable
visitation," it is often left up to the parents of the child to come
up with a plan. This is more common in situations when the parents are
able to cooperate with one another.
Contact Bowen & Associates, LLC Today
Whether you are a father, mother, grandparent, or another party, our
family law firm can stand by you during the legal process of pursuing parenting time
of a child or children. Experienced help is available at our firm.
Call us today to schedule your free divorce case evaluation!