What Is A Supervised Visitation Monitor?

A supervised visitation monitor is a trained neutral party who is paid to supervised the contact between a visiting parent and their child(ren). Visitation monitors ensure the safety and security of child-parent interactions while documenting what is seen and heard during a visit. 

Visitation monitors work with local courts, attorneys, mediators and child services to take on cases of families experiencing custody issues. They are primarily responsible for interviewing the family, supervising the visiting parent and reporting to the courts. Other common duties may include supervised exchanges, supervised telephone/video calls, transporting the child(ten) and court appearances. 

Monitors can be independent contractors or work for an agency.

Requirements For Becoming A Supervised Visitation Monitor


  • Meet the training requirements as stated in "Standard 5.20. Uniform standards of practice for providers of supervised visitation" (You can get trained online here);
  • 'Be 21 years of age or older;
  • Have no record of conviction for driving under the influence (DUI) within the last 5 years;
  • Not have been on probation or parole for the last 10 years;
  • Have no record of a conviction for child molestation, child abuse, or other crimes against a person;
  • Have proof of automobile insurance if transporting the child;
  • Have no civil, criminal, or juvenile restraining orders within the last 10 years;
  • Have no current or past court order in which the provider is the person being supervised;
  • Be able to speak the language of the party being supervised and of the child, or the provider must provide a neutral interpreter over the age of 18 who is able to do so;
  • Agree to adhere to and enforce the court order regarding supervised visitation; and,
  • Sign a declaration or Declaration of Supervised Visitation Provider (form FL-324) stating that all requirements to be a professional provider have been met.

Benefits Of Becoming A Supervised Visitation Monitor

Get Started Quickly 

All you need to officially get started is our 24 hour online course, live scan fingerprints and to register with TrustLine for background screening. All are fairly quick processes. If you follow our instructions you should have your business set up from start to finish in less than one month. 

Great Pay 

Visitation monitors can earn up to $70/hour and in some cases even more (such as holidays, court appearances or high-risk cases. That’s significantly higher than most other industries. The majority of similar paying careers can take several years to get the necessary degree in that field. 

Flexible Hours 

Work as little or as much as you can handle. As a monitor you have the freedom to choose which hours you want to work. This can be great for people who aren’t quite ready to leave their current job but want to add to their income and expand their career options. Many people start off as a visitation monitor part- time or as a second career so they can test the waters and see if it is the right fit for them. 

No Prior Experience Or Education Required

Our 24 hour course is the only education you will need to get started. Also, you won’t need to have any job experience to qualify. Once you receive your certificate of completion, you are qualified in terms of the educational requirements. 

It may be beneficial for you to add supplemental certifications such as cpr or anger management to make your services more marketable to the courts and public but these are currently not required. 

Be Your Own Boss 

You can choose to be an independent provider and work for yourself. You can work from home or an office but if you choose to work from home you will only be able to provide off-site visits.You may also hire your own employees to assist you with the work load which is recommended due to the high number of parents being turned away due to lack of monitors. 

Help Reunite Families 

This one is a treat of its own and speaks for itself. Be the reason someone is able to see their children. Make a difference in your community. You would be surprised how many people are grateful for your services when you remain neutral and professional. It’s always nice to put smiles on other’s faces 

High Demand 

California is in great need of visitation monitors. Currently many families are being turned away due to the low availability of visitation monitors. This leaves a great business opportunity for new monitors like you to cover the slack. 

Work In The Legal Industry 

If you’ve ever wanted to be part of a legal field but don’t have time for 4-8 years of college, then this is the career for you! 



Who's It For?


-social workers

-college students

-moms

-dads 

-retirees

-counselors

-teachers

-law enforcement/security personnel/Veterans 

-entrepreneurs 

-law students 

-self employed

-job seekers 

-nurses 

-any one age 21 or older looking to make extra money.


Normal Day For A Monitor


Intakes 

During an intake, you must interview the whole family and decide whether you want to accept the case or not. If you do accept you must next give the family an orientation where you explain all rules and responsibilities during visits. 

On-Site Visits 

On-site visits are one of the most common services provided. These visits take place at your office. Some court orders may require for on-site visits only if the clients is higher risk. Facilities should be set up for the safety and security of all parties. 

Off-Site Visits 

Off-site visits are another common service offered by monitors. These visits take place in a public location such as a park, beach or movie theater. Clients that are lower risk are free to have these types of visits. The monitor will supervise the same as they would for an on- site visit. 

Reports 

During each visit monitors are required to document what they see and hear from each party. This can be just observations or notable incidents that may occur such as verbal abuse or threats to the other parent. Monitors must remain neutral while writing their reports. 

Exchanges 

Many times during custody cases a judge will order that a visitation monitor be present during the exchange of children from one parent to the other. The monitor will arrive at the same time as the family to ensure the safety and well-being of all parties. Monitors must also report any notable incidents that occur during the exchange. 

Telephone/Video calls 

Often times in custody cases when parents live in two distant locations, instead of having live visits the noncustodial parent can have supervised visits with their children through the means of telephone or video calling technology such as Skype. All of the same rules that apply to live visits apply to telephone visits. 

Child Transportation 

When these services are offered by a monitor then they are required to transport the child or children from one destination to another. 

Court Appearances 

When a notable incident is reported by a supervised monitored then it is possible that the monitor is asked to make a court appearance. When this happens the monitor must be sure to remain neutral and inform the court of what they saw and heard without including any biased opinions. 

Office 

Day to day office work may include filing paperwork, scheduling visits & intakes, writing reports, delivering reports to the courts, marketing and managing any employees. 



How Do Visitation Monitors Make Money?

Intakes 

Average fee: $40-$75 per/parent 

Average Intake time: 30-60 min/parent 


Visits 

Average fee: $35-$70/hour plus travel 

Average visit time: 2 hours 


Reports 

Average fee: $150-$225 

Average report time: 30-60 min 


Phone/Video Calls 

Average fee: $.99/min 

Average Call time: 1 hour 


Court Visits 

Average fee: $100 per hour or $300 per day 

Average court visit duration: varies 


Exchanges 

Average fee: $50/hour
Average Exchange Duration: 30 min or less 



How Do I Get Clients?

Court referrals 

Get on the court's referral list to gain maximum exposure and credibility. This is a simple process. Just submit your application! 

Attorney referrals

Partner with family attorneys and offer a referral fee for each new client. 

Mediation referrals 

Mediators constantly have clients who are in need of visitation services. 

Child Service referrals 

Local child services like CPS are great referral sources. 

Foster referrals 

Foster care facilities need visitation when a child is being adopted 

Google and social media 

Along with the courts, this is where most of your referrals will come from 


Safety Is Priority

The majority of the cases referred to a visitation monitor will be positive experiences for both you and the family. Although, like in any business there can be a small portion of cases where a family may be stressed due to their situation and might take their frustrations out on you or your staff. The de-escalation tactics covered by our course will be essential for these cases. 

Though the good news is, during the initial interview you can choose which cases you feel comfortable with and deny those who you think are high risk. Safety and security are the primary concerns for any monitor. Properly trained monitors are quickly able to recognize any signs or situations that may become problematic in the future. Be sure to only take on cases that you feel comfortable with. 



Additional Streams Of Income

Mediation 

Many of your clients will have a need for mediation due to it being cheaper than going to trial. This can add a significant amount of additional revenues to your business. 

Classes (Anger and Parenting) 

Just like parents are court ordered to do supervised visitation, they also are often mandated to take anger management and parenting classes. If you have the proper experience or certifications you can provide these services. 

Employees 

When you're too busy to work, if you hire employees they can fill the gap and continue to earn income for your business. 


Checklist To Get Started

[ ] 24 course certificate of completion
[ ] Background check/Register with TrustLine* 

[ ] Live scan fingerprints
[ ] Register business name
[ ] Get business license
[ ] Obtain EIN/Tax lD
[ ] Submit business to the courts
[ ] Partner with local family attorneys
[ ] Partner with local mediation company
[ ] Partner with local child services
[ ] Partner with local foster facilities
[ ] Advertise on Google & Social Media
[ ] Business cards
[ ] Website
[ ] Get an office (optional)


*TrustLine is the courts’ trusted and preferred background check services. It is currently encouraged that you register with their company. In 2021 it will be a requirement. We recommend doing it now to increase your credibility. Virtually all other monitors on the list are registered with TrustLine

Get Your Supervised Visitation Monitor Certificate In 24 Hours

If after reading this guide you feel like this is the career for you then you can sign up to take our 24 hour online course at the link below:

Supervised Visitation Monitor Training  


*During the coronavirus outbreak, we will be offering our course at the discounted price of $197. We hope this helps during these trying times. Remember we are all in this together.

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