Where the request happens

Supervised visitation in Tennessee is ordered by a court — you cannot simply impose it on the other parent. The request happens inside a family law case:

  • If a divorce or custody case is already open, your attorney can file a motion asking the court to order that the other parent's time be supervised, or ask for supervision in your proposed parenting plan.
  • If no case is open, the request is made as part of a new filing — a divorce complaint, a parentage petition, or a petition to modify an existing parenting plan.
  • In emergencies, Tennessee courts can enter temporary restraining orders or emergency custody orders where a child faces an immediate risk of harm. Talk to an attorney immediately if this is your situation.

In Davidson County, divorce-related requests go through the Circuit Court; matters between unmarried parents generally go through the Juvenile Court. In the surrounding counties, circuit and chancery courts hear these cases.

The basic legal framework

Tennessee custody decisions are governed by the best interest of the child. Courts are required to consider each parent's ability to provide a safe, stable environment, and they may limit or condition a parent's residential time where the evidence shows risks to the child — including findings related to abuse, neglect, or substance misuse. Supervised visitation is one of the tools courts use: it preserves the parent-child relationship while addressing the safety concern. We deliberately keep statutory specifics general here — the exact standards and findings are case-specific, and a Tennessee family law attorney can explain how they apply to your facts.

What to include in your request

  • Specific facts, not conclusions. Dates, incidents, police reports, medical records, texts — courts act on evidence.
  • A concrete proposal. Who should supervise (a professional provider vs. a relative), how often visits should occur, and where.
  • A named provider if possible. Identifying a professional provider such as TruVisit Nashville — with its rates and availability — makes the order easy for the judge to enter and hard to object to.

What happens after the order

  1. The order (or parenting plan) describes the supervision requirement.
  2. The family completes provider intake — for TruVisit Nashville, that's a 2-minute online inquiry, an intake call, and the $150 intake fee.
  3. Sessions are scheduled with both parties and confirmed in writing.
  4. Each visit produces a court-formatted written report within 48–72 hours.

If supervision has been ordered against you

Comply fully, from the first visit. A consistent record of calm, engaged, incident-free supervised visits is the strongest evidence a parent can build toward restoring unsupervised time. Our supervisors are neutral — the report reflects what happens, and for most parents that record helps.

Frequently asked questions

Can I request supervised visitation without a lawyer?
Yes — Tennessee courts accept filings from self-represented parties, and self-help resources are available through the courts. That said, requests for supervision involve evidence and standards where experienced counsel makes a real difference.
Who pays for the supervision?
The court order usually says. Many orders assign the cost to the parent being supervised; some split it. TruVisit Nashville works with whatever arrangement your order sets out.
How long will supervision last?
As long as the court orders — often it is temporary and revisited at a later hearing, where the session record matters.