What Are Your Visitation Rights In California?

Visitation is a topic that is discussed during a child custody hearing in California. Divorces can be emotionally draining for children, so even if they have to live apart, California law encourages both parents to be able to spend time with their children and have a relationship with them.

The Law Offices of Stephanie L. Mahdavi, based in Ventura County, focuses on establishing a visitation schedule or parenting plan that protects your child’s bond with both parents. The Westlake Village family law attorneys at The Law Offices of Stephanie L. Mahdavi have over two decades of experience working with clients all around the area to find creative solutions while keeping all parties focused on a final agreement that is in the best interests of the child.

Visitation Orders in California

The state of California has various types of visitation orders that can be granted by a judge, including:

1. No Visitation—granted when it is in the best interest of the child for them to not see their parent, even with supervision.
2. Reasonable Visitation—typically, these orders are open-ended, allowing the parents to negotiate when the other is permitted to visit.
3. Supervised Visitation—this is utilized when the children’s safety and well-being necessitate that a parent, another adult, or a professional agency supervise the visits of the other parent.
4. Visitation by Schedule—in general, detailed visitation plans help parents and children avoid conflicts and confusion, so parents and courts often devise a visitation schedule that specifies the dates and times when the children will be with each parent.

A judge may grant joint legal custody of the child or children to both parents, but not joint physical custody. When a parent does not have physical custody, they are usually granted visitation rights and maybe legal custody.

What Does the Law Say About Visitation?

Judges must award custody based on what is in the “best interest of the child,” according to the law. The court will consider the following factors when deciding what is best for a child:

• Age of the child or children
• History of familial violence or substance addiction
• The child’s relationships to school, home, and neighborhood
• The child’s well-being
• The emotional bonds that exist between parents and children
• The parents’ abilities to care for the child

The law states that courts cannot refuse your right to custody or visitation just because you were never married to the other parent, because you or the other parent has a physical disability, or because you or the other parent has a different lifestyle, religious belief, or sexual orientation.

Contact The Law Offices of Stephanie L. Mahdavi Today

The quality of your legal representation can make a major impact when it comes to key family law matters including child custody, visitation, alimony, divorce modifications, and property and asset splits. We have a variety of appointment times available, including evenings.

Contact the Westlake Village family law attorneys of The Law Offices of Stephanie L. Mahdavi by phone at (805) 379-4550 or through our online form.