reasonable visitation?

[eccentricity]

What is the name of your state? Missouri

After a mess of a cps case, the father of my youngest child was awarded custody of her. The family law orders (prepared in California-we just moved back here yesterday--all parties are now in Missouri) state we have joint legal custody, he has sole physical custody and I have reasonable visitation. There is no issue of abuse/neglect, children were placed in cps care by myself due to financial difficulty (couldn't watch them starve to death-No fathers helping.) Because that child's father finally stepped up and decided to be a part of her life (at age 3 1/2) they sent her on an 'extended visit with him' the other three children, whose father is a registered sex offender, remained in foster care in California. Since she was in Missouri with her father, court dependency was terminated last week, the other 3 children were released to my custody last week and we came to my parents' home in MO. Family law orders were done by juvenile courts. Now he's saying that 'reasonable visitation' doesn't mean he has to let her see me unsupervised, and I think 'reasonable visitation' means I shouldn't have to be supervised, as there's no reason for it and the other children were returned to me. What is considered reasonable? I would like to take my daughter for weekends and such. What can I do?

 

[eccentricity]

please?

 

[karma1]

"Reasonable visitation"

In most cases, that I know of, means the CP can dictate when the child, if at all, can visit. That's why there are so many NCP's fighting to see their children~
Anyway, I am not familiar with MO laws, but the first place I would look would be those--many times, states have certain laws regarding visitation and parenting time and these can be referred to for guidelines purposes.
Now, as for supervised visitation, if it isnt in a court order saying you have to be supervised, then he cannot decide this is in fact what needs to happen in order for you to see your child...BUT, like I said, if your visitation is "reasonable" with no specifics, unless you modify that wording, he can do whatever he wants...
I would talk to an attorney about all of this, but in the mean time....
My suggestion would be to document every and all communications with him--send things certified, return receipt, asking in writing for specific visitation times. Be sure to include a response date. Site those guidelines I was referring to, also.
A wonderful site you can look into for forms and state specific info is
www.deltabravo.net
Remember, while you are looking into info and attorneys, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT, DOCUMENT~
good luck

 

[Bre's_mom]

Resonable visitation is something that should not be allowed to be put in parenting plans, they are not detailed, therefore the CP can use that child as a weapon, which is horrible... If you can, I would modify the parenting plan, asking for a more detailed plan.
Good Luck