Supervised visitation in Oregon, called supervised parenting time, is court-ordered contact where a parent may see their child only in the presence of an approved adult monitor. Under Or. Rev. Stat. § 107.718(6), Oregon judges order supervision when there is domestic abuse, child abuse, substance misuse, or a flight risk. Professional supervision typically costs $40 to $150 per hour as of January 2026.
Oregon replaced the word "visitation" with "parenting time" in its statutes, but many parents still search for "supervised visitation Oregon" when they mean supervised parenting time. This guide explains when a court orders monitored visitation, who pays for it, how to request or contest a supervised access order, and the statutory framework governing supervised visitation in Oregon under Chapter 107 of the Oregon Revised Statutes.
Key Facts: Supervised Visitation in Oregon (2026)
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Filing Fee (dissolution) | $301 under Or. Rev. Stat. § 21.155 (as of January 2026 — verify with your local clerk) |
| Waiting Period | None — Oregon eliminated its 90-day waiting period in 2011 |
| Residency Requirement | 6 months if married out of state; immediate if married in Oregon (Or. Rev. Stat. § 107.075) |
| Grounds | Irreconcilable differences (no-fault) under Or. Rev. Stat. § 107.025 |
| Property Division Type | Equitable distribution (not community property) |
| Governing Statute | Or. Rev. Stat. § 107.718(6) — safety provisions |
| Custody Standard | Best interests of the child (Or. Rev. Stat. § 107.137) |
| Professional Supervision Cost | $40–$150 per hour (as of January 2026) |
What Is Supervised Visitation in Oregon?
Supervised visitation in Oregon is parenting time during which a parent and child must remain in the presence of a specified third-party adult who monitors the visit. Oregon courts order supervised access under Or. Rev. Stat. § 107.718(6) to protect a child's physical and emotional safety while preserving the parent-child relationship. The monitor ensures the parenting-time rules are followed throughout each session.
Oregon statutes use the term "parenting time" rather than "visitation" for a parent's contact with a child, so supervised visitation is formally called supervised parenting time. The distinction matters in court filings and parenting-plan documents, but the practical result is identical: a parent cannot be alone with the child. A designated supervisor, who may be a professional provider, a visitation center, or a trusted relative, remains present for the entire visit and is responsible for making sure the child stays safe and the court's conditions are honored. Supervision can occur at a facility, in a home, or in a community setting, depending on what the parenting plan specifies. Oregon's Safety-Focused Parenting Plan Guide, published by the Oregon Judicial Department, provides the framework courts use to build these arrangements.
When Does an Oregon Court Order Supervised Parenting Time?
An Oregon court orders supervised parenting time when evidence shows a parent poses a risk to the child, most commonly involving domestic violence, child abuse, substance misuse, untreated mental illness, or a credible threat to remove the child from the state. Under Or. Rev. Stat. § 107.137, the judge weighs the best interests of the child, and safety concerns take priority over every other custody factor.
Oregon judges decide supervised visitation on a case-by-case basis, considering the specific evidence presented. The statute lists several best-interest factors, including the abuse of one parent by the other, the emotional ties between the child and each parent, and each parent's ability to care for the child safely. When one parent has committed abuse as defined in Or. Rev. Stat. § 107.705, a rebuttable presumption arises that awarding that parent sole or joint custody is not in the child's best interests. That presumption does not automatically bar parenting time, but it frequently leads a judge to impose supervised parenting time as a protective condition. Common triggers for a monitored visitation order include a documented history of family violence, a positive drug or alcohol test, a prior child-protective-services finding, threats to abduct the child, or a parent's prolonged absence from the child's life requiring gradual, supervised reintroduction.
Supervised Visitation and FAPA Restraining Orders in Oregon
A Family Abuse Prevention Act (FAPA) restraining order under Or. Rev. Stat. § 107.718 can trigger supervised parenting time on the same day it is issued. If the court grants parenting time to a parent who committed abuse, subsection (6) requires the judge to make adequate provision for the safety of the child and the protected parent, which may include supervised parenting time and exchanges at a protected location.
FAPA orders are codified at Or. Rev. Stat. § 107.700 through 107.735. To obtain one, a petitioner must show that abuse occurred within the prior 180 days, that they face imminent danger of further abuse, and that the respondent poses a credible threat to the physical safety of the petitioner or child. As of a 2023 amendment, a FAPA restraining order remains effective for two years unless withdrawn, amended, or superseded. Under Or. Rev. Stat. § 107.718(6), the court's safety provisions may include ordering that exchanges of the child occur at a protected location, that parenting time be supervised by another person or agency, that the abusive parent pay all or part of the cost of supervised parenting time, and that no overnight parenting time occur. A respondent who is served may request a hearing within 30 days; when temporary custody is contested, the court must hold that hearing within five days, an expedited timeline that reflects the seriousness of custody deprivation.
Types of Supervised Visitation Providers in Oregon
Oregon recognizes three main types of supervised parenting-time providers: professional supervision agencies, supervised visitation centers, and non-professional supervisors such as trusted relatives or friends. Professional supervision typically costs $40 to $150 per hour as of January 2026, while non-professional supervision by an approved family member is generally free but must be authorized in the parenting plan.
The choice of provider depends on the level of risk, the family's finances, and local availability. Professional supervisors are trained monitors who document each visit and can testify in court about their observations, making them valuable in high-conflict or high-risk cases. Supervised visitation centers offer a neutral facility with staff oversight, structured check-in and check-out procedures, and separate arrival times to avoid contact between parents. Non-professional supervisors, often a grandparent, aunt, or family friend, are the most affordable option and appear frequently in Oregon safety-focused parenting plans. The Statewide Family Law Advisory Committee has recognized a growing shortage of affordable professional supervisors, prompting courts to authorize qualified non-professional supervisors when a recognized need for supervision exists but professionals are unavailable or unaffordable.
| Provider Type | Typical Cost (2026) | Documentation | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Professional agency | $40–$150 per hour | Written visit reports; court testimony | High-risk, high-conflict cases |
| Supervised visitation center | $25–$100 per visit (sliding scale) | Facility logs; staff notes | Neutral setting, exchange safety |
| Non-professional (relative/friend) | Often free | Informal; less court weight | Lower-risk cases, limited budget |
How to Request Supervised Visitation in Oregon
To request supervised visitation in Oregon, a parent files a motion within their divorce, custody, or FAPA case asking the court to order supervised parenting time and states the specific safety concerns supporting the request. The court evaluates the motion under the best-interest standard of Or. Rev. Stat. § 107.137 and may set a hearing where both parents present evidence before the judge decides.
The requesting parent should document concrete concerns rather than general accusations. Effective evidence includes police reports, protective-order filings, medical or hospital records, child-protective-services reports, text messages or emails showing threats, photographs of injuries, and witness statements. The parent files an Oregon Judicial Department parenting-plan form, and courts provide an "Option A Supervised" parenting plan template designed specifically for supervised arrangements. Filing the underlying dissolution case requires the $301 filing fee under Or. Rev. Stat. § 21.155 as of January 2026, though a parent who cannot afford it may apply for a fee waiver or deferral under Or. Rev. Stat. § 21.682. If the safety risk is immediate, a parent can request temporary supervised parenting time on an emergency basis, and in FAPA cases the court can order monitored visitation the same day the petition is filed. Verify current fees with your local circuit court clerk before filing.
How to Contest or Modify a Supervised Visitation Order in Oregon
A parent subject to a supervised visitation order in Oregon can contest it at the initial hearing or later move to modify it by showing a substantial change in circumstances and that expanding parenting time serves the child's best interests. Under Or. Rev. Stat. § 107.174, courts may modify parenting-time orders, and a parent who has completed treatment or demonstrated sustained safe behavior can petition to lift supervision.
Oregon courts generally view supervised parenting time as a transitional measure rather than a permanent condition. A parent seeking to remove supervision should build a record of compliance and rehabilitation: completing a certified batterer-intervention program, finishing substance-abuse treatment, passing consistent drug and alcohol testing, attending parenting classes, and maintaining a perfect record of attended, incident-free supervised visits. Professional supervisor reports documenting positive interactions carry significant weight because the monitor is a neutral witness. The parent files a motion to modify parenting time and requests a hearing where the judge reweighs the best-interest factors under Or. Rev. Stat. § 107.137. Courts often step down supervision gradually, moving from full professional supervision to supervised exchanges only, then to unsupervised daytime visits, and eventually to overnight parenting time. A parent who violates the supervised-visitation terms, misses visits, or fails a drug test risks losing progress and having the court extend or tighten the supervision requirement.
Who Pays for Supervised Visitation in Oregon?
The parent who requires supervision usually pays for supervised visitation in Oregon, though courts have discretion to allocate the cost. Under Or. Rev. Stat. § 107.718(6), when a FAPA order results in supervised parenting time, the judge may order the parent who committed abuse to pay all or a portion of the supervision cost, which ranges from $40 to $150 per hour for professional monitors as of January 2026.
Cost allocation is a practical hurdle in many Oregon cases. Professional supervision for a single two-hour visit can cost $80 to $300, and families needing weekly visits may face hundreds of dollars in monthly expenses. Judges consider each parent's income and ability to pay when assigning responsibility. In FAPA cases, the statute specifically authorizes ordering the abusive parent to cover the expense so the protected parent and child are not forced to bear a cost created by the other parent's conduct. To reduce expenses, families often use sliding-scale supervised visitation centers, request non-professional supervision by a trusted relative approved by the court, or arrange visits at agencies that accept income-based fees. Because the cost of monitored visitation can determine how often a parent sees their child, addressing payment clearly in the parenting plan prevents future disputes and missed visits.
Supervised Visitation Rules and Conditions in Oregon
Supervised visitation in Oregon operates under specific conditions the court sets out in the parenting plan, including who may supervise, where visits occur, how long they last, and what conduct is prohibited. The supervisor is responsible for ensuring the child's safety and enforcing every rule, and any violation can be reported to the court and used to modify or suspend parenting time under Or. Rev. Stat. § 107.137.
Oregon's Option A Supervised parenting plan template lets the court specify detailed terms. Common conditions include a prohibition on discussing the court case or the other parent with the child, a ban on the parent being under the influence of alcohol or drugs during visits, restrictions on who else may be present, and a requirement that the visiting parent arrive on time and remain in the supervisor's line of sight throughout the visit. The plan typically designates the exchange location, often a protected or neutral site when domestic violence is involved, and staggers arrival and departure times so the parents do not encounter each other. The supervisor may terminate a visit early if the parent behaves inappropriately or the child becomes distressed. Because the supervisor's contemporaneous notes become evidence, a parent who consistently follows the rules builds the record needed to eventually request unsupervised parenting time.