How to become a supervised visitation provider in Georgia

Georgia law lets courts order supervised visitation, but there is no statewide license for providers. The court order in each case decides who may supervise. This guide covers what Georgia law says, your reporting duties, and where families and referrals come from.

What Georgia law says about supervised visitation

When family violence is found, the judge may order visitation supervised by another person or an agency. (O.C.G.A. §§ 19-9-3, 19-9-7)

Read your court order closely in every case. It can name who may supervise, set conditions, and say who pays.

Key facts for providers in Georgia

Georgia judges may order visitation supervised by another person or an agency in family violence cases.
Georgia courts may make the perpetrator of family violence pay the costs of supervised visitation.
Georgia's access and visitation services are delivered by contracted nonprofits.

Reporting child abuse in Georgia

Listed professionals must report. Anyone else may report. (O.C.G.A. § 19-7-5)

Know how to make a report in Georgia before your first visit, and explain your reporting duty to both parents at intake. Stopping a visit to keep a child safe always comes first.

Recording visits in Georgia

Georgia's rules on recording conversations have limits and exceptions. (A participant may generally record (O.C.G.A. § 16-11-66(a)), but recording a child's phone or electronic conversations requires a superior court order or a parent's or guardian's consent (§ 16-11-66(b)), and § 16-11-62 bars recording activities in a private place without the consent of everyone observed.)

Many providers don't record visits at all. If you do, get written consent from both parents at intake, and follow the court order.

Where families and referrals come from in Georgia

Most families look for a provider right after a judge orders supervised visits. Family law attorneys, mediators, court self help centers and state funded programs are the people they ask first.

Every state receives a federal Access and Visitation grant for services like supervised visitation, neutral exchanges and parenting plans. Where Georgia's program contracts with local providers, it can be a source of referrals or funded work.

Access and Visitation Program (Georgia DHS, Division of Child Support Services) Free for child support customers: visitation coordination, mediation, parenting plans, parent education and counseling through contracted organizations.
Family Law Self-Help Resources (Georgia Courts) Custody and parenting plan self help from the Judicial Council.

Steps to start providing supervised visits in Georgia

Check your county family court's website and self help center for local rules or provider lists.
Complete training in child safety, domestic violence awareness, neutral observation, report writing and ending a visit safely. The Supervised Visitation Network publishes practice standards many providers follow.
Get a background screening and liability insurance. Families, attorneys and some courts expect both even where Georgia law doesn't require them.
Set your rates, service area, visit locations and cancellation policy, and write a services agreement and intake form. Have a Georgia attorney review them.
Introduce yourself to local family law attorneys, mediators and the court's self help center, and ask how to join any provider list.
List your services where families search, so they can see your rates and book you online.

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Sources

General information only, not legal advice. Laws change, and this information may be incomplete, out of date or wrong. Confirm it with a licensed attorney in your state before you rely on it.