The courts have vast discretion to regulate and supervise visitation to protect a child’s best interest or a parent’s rights. In addition to a court’s general authority under La. C.C. art. 136, other statutes may restrict or affect visitation. Generally, these statutes involve family violence, physical abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, criminal misconduct, failure to visit a child, or repeated interference with the other parent’s visitation.1 A court may order supervised visitation to protect the child even when a specific statutory restriction on visitation is not applicable.2 Drug use may justify supervised visitation until the using parent provides proof of drug rehabilitation.3
For good cause shown, a court may require a party to post a bond to ensure compliance with a visitation order and to indemnify the other party for any costs incurred.4 A bond may be proper when a party fails to comply with a court-ordered visitation schedule or fails to return the child at the end of his visitation period.5 A court also has the power to order a bond to prevent international abduction.6
Failure to comply with visitation orders may subject a party to contempt, attorney fee sanctions, and even modification of the custody or visitation order.7 Absent good cause, neither parent may interfere with the other parent’s visitation, custody, or time rights.8
- 1La. C.C. art 136, 136.1, 137; La. RS. 9:341, 364.
- 2See, e.g., Coleman v. Coleman, 47,080, p. 11 (La. App. 2 Cir. 2/29/12), 87 So. 3d 246, 254.
- 3See Main v. Main, 19-503, p. 16 n.29 (La. App. 5 Cir. 2/19/20), 292 So. 3d 135, 148 n.29.
- 4La. R.S. 9:342.
- 5Id.
- 6La. R.S. 13:1858(D)(2).
- 7La. R.S. 9:346.
- 8La. C.C. art. 136.1.