Before the visit

You'll receive written confirmation in advance of your first visit. It will include:

  • The date, time, and location of the visit
  • The name of your assigned TruVisit supervisor
  • The duration of the visit (typically 2–3 hours)
  • Any specific conditions from the court order (e.g., no electronics, no discussion of certain topics)
  • Confirmation that both parents have been notified

If anything in the confirmation doesn't match what you understood about the visit, contact your TruVisit coordinator before the visit — not at the visit. Last-minute clarifications at the meeting point create stress for the child.

What to bring

  • Yourself, on time. Arrive 5–10 minutes early to settle in.
  • A government-issued photo ID. The supervisor will confirm your identity.
  • Age-appropriate activities for the child. A book, a small toy, a craft, a game. Keep it simple.
  • Snacks and water, especially for younger children. Phoenix summers are real.
  • A change of clothes for small children if relevant.
  • Nothing prohibited by your court order. Re-read the order before the visit. If you're not sure, ask.

What NOT to bring

  • Gifts that haven't been pre-discussed (some orders restrict)
  • Letters or written notes for the child to take back (also restricted in some orders)
  • Anyone other than you. Visits are between you and the child — not extended family, new partners, or friends — unless the order specifically allows.
  • Phones with recording active. The supervisor's report is the record of the visit.

When you arrive

The TruVisit supervisor will meet you at the agreed location. Your supervisor will:

  • Confirm your identity and briefly review the court order's conditions
  • Coordinate the arrival of the child (often the custodial parent drops the child off; sometimes there's a staggered arrival to avoid contact between parents)
  • Greet the child and re-introduce you if appropriate
  • Stay visually and audibly present for the duration of the visit

During the visit

Here's what genuinely matters for a good first visit:

  • Follow the child's lead. If the child is shy, don't push. If the child wants to play, play. If the child wants to talk, listen.
  • Keep it calm. A first visit is not the time for emotional conversations, gifts, or big plans. Calm presence is the goal.
  • Do not discuss the case. No talk about court, the other parent, custody, or why supervision is required. This is not negotiable.
  • Do not ask the child to keep secrets. Whatever happens in the visit will be in the report — and the child should never be put in the position of holding something back.
  • Do not make promises you can't keep. Avoid "I'll see you next week" unless that's actually confirmed. Children remember.
  • Engage in the activities you brought. Reading a book, playing a game, working on a craft — anything that gives you and the child shared focus.
For the custodial parent Your role at the first visit is the handoff. Bring the child, hand them off to the supervisor, and step away. Do not interact with the other parent at the visit unless the order specifically requires it. Return at the agreed pickup time. The supervisor will manage the handoff back.

What the supervisor is doing

The supervisor's job is to:

  • Remain visually and audibly present at all times
  • Take contemporaneous notes — timestamped, factual, observational
  • Step in to redirect if any condition of the court order is violated
  • End the visit if necessary (very rare, but possible if safety is at issue)
  • Produce a written report within 48–72 hours

The supervisor is not there to coach you, give parenting advice, judge your interactions, or take sides. They are there to be a neutral witness whose observations will be useful to the court.

End of the visit

Wrap up 5–10 minutes before the scheduled end time. Brief, positive goodbyes work best. The supervisor will coordinate the handoff back to the custodial parent or facilitate the child's transition home.

After the visit

You'll receive your written session report within 48–72 hours. The report will be distributed according to whatever your court order specifies — typically to you, the other parent (or their attorney), and sometimes directly to the court or a guardian ad litem.

If you have questions about the report, contact your TruVisit coordinator. We don't edit reports based on either party's preference — they are objective records — but we can clarify anything that's unclear.

How to prepare a child for a first supervised visit

If you're the custodial parent, here's what tends to help:

  • Tell the child in advance, briefly and matter-of-factly: "You're going to see [parent] on Saturday at [park]. A nice person from TruVisit will be there too."
  • Do not over-explain. Do not coach. Do not warn.
  • Let the child bring a comfort item if they want — small stuffed animal, a favorite book.
  • Plan a low-key activity after the visit. No big questions, no debrief. Let the child decompress.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring a gift for my child to the first visit?
Check your court order first — some restrict gifts. Even when allowed, small and simple is best for a first visit. Avoid large, expensive, or emotionally loaded gifts.
What if my child is reluctant or upset?
Common, especially early on. The supervisor's job is to support the visit, not force interaction. Sometimes shorter visits or quieter activities work better in the first few sessions. The supervisor will document the child's affect — which over time helps the court understand the relationship's progress.
Can I take photos during the visit?
Generally, no — unless the court order specifically allows. Photos and video can complicate the documentary record. The supervisor's report is the official record of the visit.
How long until the visits feel normal?
Most parents and children report that visits start to feel more natural by the third or fourth session. The first visit is almost always the hardest.