Visitation Rights Attorney

Understanding Visitation Rights in California

In California, "visitation" — more accurately called parenting time — refers to the time a non-custodial parent spends with their children. Courts strongly favor arrangements that allow children to maintain close relationships with both parents, unless there is a documented reason that contact would harm the child's health, safety, or welfare.

There are several types of visitation arrangements California courts commonly order:

• Scheduled visitation — specific days and times set out in a court order
• Reasonable visitation — flexible arrangements where parents are expected to work it out
• Supervised visitation — visits that occur in the presence of a third party, typically ordered when a parent poses some risk
• No visitation — only in extreme cases where any contact would endanger the child

When a Parent Denies Court-Ordered Visitation

Denying a parent their court-ordered parenting time is a violation of the custody order and can have serious legal consequences for the parent doing the denying. Under California law, willful failure to comply with a custody or visitation order can result in contempt of court, fines, and in some cases changes to the custody arrangement itself.

If you are being denied your parenting time, you have options. Attorney Sarkovich can file an enforcement motion with the court, document the violations, and seek appropriate remedies — including make-up parenting time and attorney fee awards.

Modifying an Existing Visitation Order

Parenting schedules that made sense when children were young often need adjustment as children grow. School schedules change, after-school activities conflict with existing arrangements, children develop stronger preferences about where they spend their time, and parents' work and living situations evolve.

When both parents agree on a change, the process is relatively straightforward. When they don't, a modification hearing is required — and the requesting parent must show that the change serves the children's best interests.