The one-sentence difference

Supervised visitation means a neutral professional is present during the visit itself. Monitored exchange means a neutral professional is only present for the hand-off of the child between parents — and is not present during the visit.

Supervised visitation — what it is

A trained supervisor is present for the entire visit between the child and the parent. The supervisor observes, takes contemporaneous notes, ensures the conditions of the court order are followed, and produces a written report after the session.

Used when the court has concerns about the visit itself — for example, safety, the parent's behavior with the child, substance abuse, or the need to document what is happening between parent and child.

Monitored exchange — what it is

A trained third party is present only when the child is being transferred from one parent to the other. The monitor watches the handoff, documents it, and leaves. The actual visit takes place without the monitor present.

Used when the court has concerns about the contact between the parents — for example, conflict, family violence protective orders, or a documented inability to interact peacefully — but not concerns about the visit itself.

Side-by-side comparison

  • Who is present? Supervised: supervisor + parent + child. Monitored exchange: monitor + both parents (briefly) + child.
  • How long is the professional present? Supervised: the entire visit (typically 2–3 hours). Monitored exchange: usually 10–30 minutes total.
  • What does the professional document? Supervised: the visit, behavior, interactions, and any incidents. Monitored exchange: the handoff itself.
  • What is the typical cost? Supervised: hourly rate for the full session ($65/hr at TruVisit Atlanta). Monitored exchange: significantly less because the time is much shorter.
  • What problem does it solve? Supervised: safety or accountability during the visit. Monitored exchange: parent-to-parent conflict at the exchange.

Which one does your court order require?

Read the order carefully. It will typically say something like:

  • "Father's parenting time shall be supervised by a professional supervisor" — supervised visitation.
  • "Exchanges shall occur at a neutral location with a third-party monitor present" — monitored exchange.
  • "Mother's parenting time shall be exercised with professional supervision and monitored exchange" — this requires both.

If the order is ambiguous, ask your attorney — or call TruVisit Atlanta at (470) 575-9426 and we'll help you figure out which service is being required.

Both services together Some high-conflict Georgia cases require both — a professional supervisor present for the visit, and a professional monitor for the exchange. TruVisit Atlanta provides both, and we can bundle them for a single case.

Common scenarios

Scenario A — A non-custodial parent has been ordered to demonstrate sobriety. The court wants documentation that the parent is sober during their parenting time. Supervised visitation.

Scenario B — Two parents are recently divorced and have an active Family Violence Protective Order between them, but the court has not restricted either parent's contact with the child. The issue is the handoff itself. Monitored exchange.

Scenario C — A parent is reuniting with a child after several years of no contact. The court wants the early visits to be observed and reported. Supervised visitation.

Scenario D — A high-conflict case where both parents have engaged in documented harassment of each other. The court wants neither parent-to-parent contact at exchanges nor unmonitored visits with the at-issue parent. Both.

How TruVisit Atlanta handles both

We're a single provider for both services. The same TruVisit-certified staff, the same documentation standards, the same flat-rate pricing. Sessions and exchanges happen at family-appropriate community locations throughout metro Atlanta. To get started, call (470) 575-9426 or submit an inquiry on our home page.

Frequently asked questions

Is monitored exchange cheaper than supervised visitation?
Yes, significantly. A supervised visit is typically billed for the full duration (2+ hours at $65/hour at TruVisit). A monitored exchange is much shorter and costs accordingly less.
Can we do monitored exchange at a public location like a police station?
Some families do this informally. Several metro Atlanta police departments have policies on third-party exchanges in their lobbies. The downside: no professional documentation. If the court order specifically requires a 'professional' or 'trained' third party to monitor and document, an informal arrangement may not satisfy the order.
If we have monitored exchange, can the visit itself be unsupervised?
Yes — that's exactly what monitored exchange is designed for. The visit between the child and the parent happens normally, without a third party present.
Can we transition from supervised visitation to monitored exchange over time?
Yes, and many cases do. As trust is rebuilt or specific concerns are resolved, the court can modify the order — often via Consent Order — to step down from supervised visits to monitored exchanges to unsupervised parenting time.