How to get supervised visitation in Indiana
In Indiana, a parent files a petition in court to start or change parenting time, and the judge can order it supervised. Indiana Legal Help has step by step packets for parents without a lawyer.
Step by step
- Check for an existing case Find out if a custody or parenting time order already exists in an Indiana court. If it does, you ask that court to change it. Your local clerk's office can help you find the case.
- Know when supervision applies IC 31-17-2-8.3 sets a rebuttable presumption of supervised parenting time when a parent was convicted of a crime of domestic or family violence that the child saw or heard. IC 31-17-4-1 lets a court limit parenting time that might endanger a child's physical health or significantly impair emotional development.
- File a verified petition Indiana Legal Help packets cover starting parenting time and changing it. The change packet uses an Appearance by Unrepresented Person, a Verified Petition To Modify Parenting Time Without Agreement, an Order Setting Hearing and an Order Modifying Parenting Time. A Child Support Worksheet goes with every filing.
- Ask for supervision in the petition Say why supervision is needed. Ask for who supervises, the schedule, and where exchanges happen. The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines say they do not apply where family violence or danger to a child is a concern, so the court sets terms for those cases.
- Serve the other parent Send copies by certified mail, hand delivery, or e-service if the other parent is registered. The e-filing system does not send them to a parent who has not registered.
- Go to the hearing Attend on the date in the Order Setting Hearing. Bring your Child Support Worksheet and supporting papers. Do not bring your children.
- After the order, choose a provider Contact providers listed in your order or in your area. Ask about intake steps, fees, and wait times. Some providers only take DCS referrals. Then schedule intake and visits.
Forms
- Indiana Legal Help, parenting time packets: Start parenting time (agree or do not agree) and change parenting time packets. Linked from the Indiana Self-Service Legal Center.
- Ask to modify parenting time without agreement, instructions: Lists the forms and the file, serve and hearing steps. Does not cover supervised parenting time by name.
- Indiana Self-Service Legal Center, getting a protection order: Advocates by county can help prepare and e-file a petition.
Good to know
- The Indiana Parenting Time Helpline is 844.836.0003, weekdays 12 to 5 p.m. Eastern, with attorney support.
- The Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence hotline is 800.332.7385, open 24 hours.
- Indiana Legal Services offers free help to eligible low income people at indianalegalservices.org.
- The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines say neutral public places such as a gas station or restaurant may be used for exchanges when parents cannot exchange directly.
- DCS funded visitation must be approved through a referral from DCS staff.