Custody & Visitation
California Visitation Orders
Learn how visitation orders work in California family law cases. Whether you're requesting, responding to, or modifying visitation, this page explains the different types of visitation the court may order, how exchanges can work, and what sample schedules might look like.
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Overview: What is Visitation?
Visitation: Introduction
Once separated, parents with minor children may agree on a child custody/visitation schedule between themselves. If an agreement cannot be reached, then the Court may decide these issues based on what the Court views is in the best interest of the child. This schedule includes both where the children will spend their time (physical custody/ visitation) and who makes the decisions for the children (legal custody).
Visitation key terms, at a basic level:
Child Custody refers to the rights and responsibilities between parents as it relates to their children.
Visitation (aka parenting time) refers to how and when each parent will spend time with their children.
Courts often refer to child custody and visitation collectively as the “parenting plan.” Courts encourage parents to agree between themselves the details of a parenting plan for their children. However, when parents who are involved in court proceedings that concern the custody of minor children cannot mutually agree on a parenting plan, then the court will step in and make orders on the parenting plan to be followed.
What does “parenting plan” mean?
Please note the difference between physical custody and visitation.
Physical custody pertains to whether a child lives solely with one parent or spends varying periods of time with both parents, whereas
Visitation pertains to the specific days and times that the child(ren) spends with each parent.
(California Family Code § 3011, § 3100–3105)
2. Types of Visitation Orders
Scheduled Visitation
This pertains to the parents following a specific schedule in spending time with the children. The schedule may be as specific or as general as the parents mutually agree, or as the court orders if the parents cannot reach an agreement.
A specific schedule is preferred.
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The days and times the parents will see the children,
How weekends, holidays, and vacations will be shared,
How transportation of the children between parents will be shared,
The locations of visitation exchanges,
Limitations on travel,
And other details.
Reasonable Visitation
This type of visitation is not per a specific schedule, but is left open-ended for the parents to resolve between themselves once visitation is ordered by the court. The parents can also mutually agree to reasonable visitation as part of the court order.
Note:
Reasonable visitation plans are often suited for parents with an amicable relationship (the parents get along), who communicate well with one another, and trust that they will cooperate with each other on when they see the children.
When the court orders ‘reasonable visitation’ but the parents can’t agree on a schedule, or if there’s a ‘no-contact’ order in place that prevents one parent from contacting the other, this type of visitation arrangement can become difficult to manage.
Supervised Visitation
This pertains to the parents following a specific schedule in spending time with the children. The schedule may be as specific or as general as the parents mutually agree, or as the court orders if the parents cannot reach an agreement. (Fam Code § 3200.5)
A specific schedule is preferred.
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The days and times the parents will see the children,
How weekends, holidays, and vacations will be shared,
How transportation of the children between parents will be shared,
The locations of visitation exchanges,
Limitations on travel,
And other details.
Two types of supervision:
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A professional supervision provider is a person who has special training and has passed a background check. They charge money for their services. Additionally, because they are mandated reporters, professional providers have to tell the local child welfare department (Child Protective Services, or “CPS”) if they suspect that a child is being abused. If you request a professional supervisor, you will need to think about who will pay for the supervisor. It’s important to know that you might have to pay some of the supervisor’s costs too.
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A nonprofessional supervision provider is usually someone the family knows, like a friend or relative, who does not have special training.
No Visitation
This occurs when visitation with the other parent is not appropriate. This may be due to past emotional or physical harm that the children have suffered as a result of the other parent, domestic violence by one parent against the other, or some other circumstance.
3. Customizing Visitation Orders
What does it mean to customize a visitation order?
Visitation schedules aren’t one-size-fits-all. California courts allow parents and guardians to create parenting time arrangements that reflect their family's unique circumstances—including work schedules, school calendars, the child's age and needs, and even the availability of a safe exchange location. While courts may approve general templates like alternating weekends or 50/50 time-sharing, they also allow for detailed, customized schedules.
Some key ways you can customize visitation orders:
Supervised Exchanges
A supervised exchange is when a third party is present during the transfer of a child from one parent to the other to ensure the exchange is safe, calm, and conflict-free. This does not mean the parenting time itself is supervised — only that the hand-off is monitored.
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California courts may order supervised exchanges under Family Code § 3100, which allows the court to set any condition necessary to ensure the child's safety and well-being during custody or visitation.
Phone, Video, or Virtual Visitation
Also called electronic visitation or virtual parenting time, this includes phone calls, video chats (e.g., FaceTime or Zoom), texts, or emails that allow the child and parent to stay connected outside of in-person visits.
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While not explicitly defined in the Family Code, California courts have broad authority to grant virtual visitation under Family Code § 3100(a) and § 3020, which prioritize frequent and continuing contact with both parents when safe and appropriate.
Neutral Exchange Locations
A neutral exchange location is a court-approved or agreed-upon public or monitored setting (like a police station, school, library, or child exchange center) where parents transfer the child to and from visitation.
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Courts have discretion to order exchanges at neutral or public places under Family Code § 3100(a), especially when there's a history of conflict, abuse, or a need to ensure both parties’ safety.
Transportation Responsibilities
This refers to who is responsible for picking up and/or dropping off the child for visitation, including the cost, timing, and transportation method.
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California law (again under Family Code § 3100) allows courts to specify the logistics of visitation, including which parent must transport the child, what location the exchanges occur at, and who bears travel expenses.
4. Sample Visitation Schedules
Sample Visitation Schedules (A/B Format)
The examples below show how parenting time is sometimes divided between the custodial parent (A) and noncustodial parent (B). These formats are commonly used in California court forms or family law discussions to help clarify who has the child(ren) and when. You can use these examples to better understand different ways parenting time might be structured—but they are just that: examples. Actual visitation schedules can vary based on many factors, including your child’s age, your availability, and what the court finds to be in the best interest of the child. These samples are not recommendations or legal advice.
In the example schedules, Days 29 and 30 fall on Wed & Thu of Week 5. All example calendars show a 31-day month starting on a Monday.
The sample schedules below refer to Parent A and Parent B, which are defined as:
Parent A
Primary Custodial Parent
Parent B
Non-custodial (visiting) parent
One Weeknight + Alternating Weekends
Parent B gets child one overnight each week (shown as Wednesday in the example calendar)
Each parent (A and B) gets the child every other weekend
2-2-3 Schedule
Repeats every 7 days.
In the first week, Parent A has child Mon & Tue, Parent B has child Wed & Thu, and Parent A has child Fri-Sun.
Then the schedule rotates (Parent B gets Mon & Tue next week, etc.)
This schedule is ideal for younger children to maintain frequent contact.
Alternating Week Schedule
One parent has the child for 7 consecutive days, then the other parent gets the child for the next 7 consecutive days.
The example schedule shows if exchanges occurred on Mondays.
This schedule is ideal for older children because of the fewer transitions.
4-3 Schedule
One parent has the child for 4 consecutive days, and the other parent has the child for the remaining 3 days of the week.
There are two main approaches to this schedule:
Fixed-week rotation (e.g., Parent A always has Mon-Thu, Parent B always has Fri-Sun) -
Alternating weeks (e.g., Parent A has 4 days one week, 3 days the next)
The schedule above illustrates the fixed-week rotation approach.
School Year with Breaks
Parent A has the child during the school year (e.g., August-May)
Parent B has the child during school breaks (e.g., summer, winter, and spring breaks)
Since the child resides with Parent A full-time during the school session, communication (e.g., phone/video calls) between child and Parent B is encouraged during the school year.
*In this example schedule, Week 3 is a school break.
5. Safety Considerations in Visitation Orders
Courts handle visitation where there are allegations or findings of abuse with Fam Code § 3044: Presumption and Supervised Visitation
Restraining orders, convictions for domestic violence, and allegations of domestic violence can impact how the court issues child custody and visitation orders. For more information about DV and child custody, read the Court’s breakdown of California Family Code section 3044.
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Family Code 3044 states that a judicial finding of domestic violence against a parent (i.e., when a judge grants a permanent domestic violence restraining order or a parent is convicted of criminal domestic violence charges) creates a rebuttable presumption against ordering joint custody between parents, where one of the parents is the abuser, and against granting sole physical or legal custody to said parent.
If the court issues custody, visitation, or support orders as part of a DVRO after notice and hearing, those orders remain in effect even after the restraining order ends, unless they are modified or terminated by a separate court order.
This is codified in California Family Code § 6340(a)(1), which states:
"If the court makes any order for custody, visitation, or support, that order shall survive the termination of any protective order."
6. Modifying Visitation Orders
What does it mean to modify a visitation order?
Once a visitation order is in place, either party can ask the court to change it—this is called a modification. In California, you can request to modify custody or visitation if there has been a significant change in circumstances or if the proposed change is in the best interest of the child. To begin this process, a parent or guardian typically files a Request for Order (form FL-300) with the court. If the custody and visitation orders were originally made as part of a Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO), you may need to use form DV-300 instead. In either case, the court will review the request and decide whether to grant the modification based on the facts presented.
Modifying Visitation Orders: Key Facts
Who can request changes?
Either party can request changes to child custody or visitation orders.
Is there any specific timeframe required?
There is no mandated waiting period to request a modification.
However, the court will consider whether there has been a significant change in circumstances since the last order was made. The primary consideration is always the best interest of the child, focusing on their health, safety, and welfare.
Which form should I use to change or end child custody and visitation orders?
If the child custody and visitation orders were issued under a Domestic Violence Restraining Order (DVRO):
Parties should use the Request to Change or End Restraining Order (form DV-300). This form is specifically designed for modifying or terminating existing DVROs, including associated custody and visitation orders.
Otherwise:
Either party can request changes to child custody or visitation orders by filing a Request for Order (form FL-300) with the court. This form is used to schedule a court hearing to ask the court to make new orders or to change existing ones in your case.
7. Key Terms
Physical Custody
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Means that each of the parents shall have significant periods of physical custody. Joint physical custody shall be shared by the parents in such a way so as to assure a child of frequent and continuing contact with both parents.
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Means that a child shall reside with and be under the supervision of one parent, subject to the power of the court to order visitation.
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The children live primarily with one parent (i.e., significantly more that 50% of the custodial time)
Legal Custody
Who makes important, long-term decisions about the child’s upbringing and welfare, such as: Where do they go to school? What sports or activities do they do? Where do they receive healthcare and under whose insurance? What religion do they practice?
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Means that both parents shall share the right and the responsibility to make the decisions relating to the health, education, and welfare of a child.
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Means that one parent shall have the right and the responsibility to make the decisions relating to the health, education, and welfare of a child.
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In some cases, parents can request sole decision-making responsibility over a specific type or set of issues. If the court grants a parent sole decision-making responsibility over an issue such as healthcare, for example, that means that that parent can make decisions regarding their child’s healthcare that he or she believes to be in the child’s best interest without having to first consult with, or get permission from, the other parent.
Visitation
A plan for how the parents will share time with their children.
Supervised Visitation
Visitation between a parent and a child that happens in the presence of another specified adult.
Reunification
Reunification refers to a structured process—often involving therapy or counseling—that helps a child safely rebuild a relationship with a parent they’ve been separated from, especially after a long absence, estrangement, or family trauma.
Courts may order reunification services or therapy if the child refuses visits, has been alienated from a parent, or there were past concerns (such as abuse or neglect) that no longer pose a risk but require gradual reintroduction. There is no single California statute that defines "reunification" in the context of family law custody proceedings. However, courts have broad discretion under Family Code § 3020 and § 3100 to make custody and visitation orders that promote the health, safety, and welfare of the child. Reunification therapy may be ordered as part of that discretion.
Exchange location
An exchange location is the place where the child is transferred from one parent to the other at the beginning and end of visitation. The court may order a specific location to help reduce conflict or ensure safety during exchanges.
Types:
Neutral location: A school, police station, or other public area
Monitored center: A supervised site with staff who observe the exchange
Third-party facilitator: A trusted adult handles the transfer of the child
Under Family Code § 3100(a), courts may tailor exchange arrangements to protect the child’s wellbeing or reduce tension between parents.
8. Helpful Links and Resources
Helpful CA Court-Approved Resources
For an overview of the child custody and visitation process, read the Child Custody Information Sheet or visit the CA Court Website’s page on ‘Resources to develop a parenting plan.’
We also highly encourage you to review the California Court System’s Families Change Website, which offers a free course that helps parents, teens, and children deal with a family break up. You will find links to services that can help you and other types of resources.
Co-Parenting Apps
The apps listed below are court-approved or widely recommended.
OurFamilyWizard
Frequently court-ordered in California; tracks all communication, calendars, and expenses; allows for professional accounts (lawyers, therapists, judges). Accepted by most family courts and used in high-conflict cases.
Sesame Street Toolkits for Parents
Toolkit for parents dealing with divorce, including how to help your children adjust to two homes. Other toolkits include coping when a parent or loved one is incarcerated.
AppClose
Free co-parenting tool with scheduling, expense tracking, and secure communication. Especially useful for low-income families.
TalkingParents
Offers recorded, uneditable messaging and call logs; court-admissible records; lower-cost alternative to OurFamilyWizard.
