Do I Need a Court Order for Visitation in California?

You are not legally required to have a court order for child visitation—but it’s highly recommended.

In California, if there is no court order, visitation is informal and not enforceable. That means if one parent refuses to follow an informal agreement, law enforcement or the courts can’t help. If there’s a court-ordered visitation schedule, the other parent must comply, and you can take legal action if they don’t.

Visitation orders can be part of a divorce, parentage case, or a Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO). A court can order various types of visitation:

• Scheduled visitation with specific days and times,

• Reasonable visitation, which is flexible but requires good communication,

• Or supervised visitation, where a third party is present for safety reasons.

Remember: visitation orders protect your parenting time—and your child’s right to maintain relationships with both parents.