The plain-English summary

OCGA Title 19 (Domestic Relations) is the section of the Georgia Code that governs marriage, divorce, custody, child support, parenting time, family violence, and related family law matters. When a Georgia Superior Court orders supervised visitation, the legal authority for that order comes primarily from sections within Title 19 — most often § 19-9-3 (custody and visitation), § 19-9-7 (family violence parenting time provisions), and § 19-13-1 et seq. (family violence protective orders).

This page is not legal advice TruVisit Atlanta is a supervised visitation provider, not a law firm. This page is an educational overview only. For advice about your case, consult a licensed Georgia family law attorney. For the current authoritative text of any code section, see the official Official Code of Georgia Annotated.

Key sections that matter for supervised visitation

OCGA § 19-9-3 — Custody and visitation; best interests of the child

This is the foundational best-interests statute. It lays out the factors a Georgia court considers when making custody and parenting time decisions. It also gives the court authority to fashion appropriate parenting time arrangements — including supervised parenting time — when warranted.

OCGA § 19-9-7 — Parenting time and family violence

This section addresses the intersection of family violence and parenting time. It creates specific procedures and presumptions when family violence has been adjudicated or established.

OCGA § 19-13-1 et seq. — Family violence protective orders

The Family Violence Act. Governs the issuance of Family Violence Protective Orders (FVPOs) in Georgia. Supervised visitation is sometimes ordered as part of, or alongside, an FVPO.

OCGA § 19-7-22 — Legitimation

The legitimation statute — the Georgia procedure by which a father establishes legal rights to a child born outside marriage. Supervised visitation can be ordered as part of a legitimation case.

Court professionals appointed under Georgia law

Several types of professionals may be involved in a Georgia family law case where supervised visitation is at issue:

  • Superior Court Judge or Senior Judge — issues orders, presides at hearings and trial
  • Guardian ad Litem (GAL) — represents the child's best interests in contested custody cases
  • Custody Evaluator — mental health professional conducting a parenting evaluation
  • Mediator — facilitates settlement
  • Parenting Coordinator — appointed to help parents implement parenting orders post-decree (governed by the Uniform Superior Court Rules)
  • Supervised Visitation Provider — neutral third party present at visits

Key practical implications for parents

  • The order controls. Whatever your Georgia court order says about supervised visitation governs.
  • You usually have provider choice. Most metro Atlanta orders specify the requirement ("professional supervision") without naming a specific company.
  • Fee allocation is in the order. Whoever the order says pays, pays.
  • The supervisor's records may be subpoenaed. TruVisit Atlanta's reports are built to withstand subpoena and possible testimony.
  • The supervisor is neutral. By design and by professional obligation.

Reading your Georgia court order — what to look for

  • Type of supervision — full supervised visitation? monitored exchange? therapeutic visitation? a combination?
  • Frequency — how often are visits ordered?
  • Duration — length of each visit; total duration of the supervised arrangement
  • Location requirements — does the order specify a type of location?
  • Conditions on visits — restrictions on topics, prohibited items, gifts
  • Reporting — who receives reports? how often?
  • Cost allocation — who pays
  • Modification / step-down criteria

What this means in practice for working with TruVisit Atlanta

If your order references "professional supervised visitation" without naming a provider, TruVisit Atlanta can be that provider. Our intake process includes a review of your order — we'll flag anything ambiguous and make sure our reporting format matches what your order requires.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a court order to use TruVisit Atlanta?
Most of our cases come with a Georgia court order, but it isn't strictly required. Some parents engage us voluntarily — for example, as part of a stipulated agreement before an order is entered.
Can the court order us to use a specific provider?
Yes. Georgia courts sometimes appoint a specific provider. More commonly, the order simply specifies the requirement and leaves provider selection to the parties.
What if we can't agree on a provider?
When the parties can't agree, the court can intervene and either appoint a specific provider or order mediation. TruVisit Atlanta is regularly selected as a neutral choice in cases where the parties couldn't agree on others.
Are TruVisit Atlanta supervisors qualified under Georgia law?
Our supervisors are trained, background-checked, and experienced in the documentation standards used by Georgia Superior Courts. We provide credentialing information to your attorney or to the court on request.