The Role of the São Paulo Judiciary in Family Litigation: An Analysis of the Institutionalization Process of the Assisted Visitation Center - CEVAT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61681/revistasimetria.v1i17.254Keywords:
Judiciary, Public Policy, Children's righ to family life, Supervised visitation, Process tracingAbstract
This study analyzes the institutionalization process of a service implemented by the São
Paulo State Judiciary to provide supervised visitation for children and adolescents in the
context of high-conflict divorce. In family law, contentious separations often hinder the
maintenance of balanced family relationships between children and their parental branches.
In more complex cases, to prevent the rupture of ties with the non-custodial parent,
judges may order supervised visitation. In the absence of specific public policies within
the Executive Branch to address such demands, the São Paulo Judiciary has assumed a
leading role by establishing the Assisted Visitation Center (CEVAT), a pioneering initiative
recognized nationally. The service offers monitoring and intervention for families subject
to court-ordered supervised visitation, aiming to restore and strengthen family bonds.
Although implemented within the Judiciary, the service performs functions traditionally
associated with the Executive Branch. The research examines the process through which
this judicial initiative was implemented and maintained. To this end, the study employs a
process tracing methodology, combining in-depth interviews with documentary analysis.
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