Child Visitation Schedules in California Divorce

1. What Is Child Visitation in California?

A child visitation order is the court’s written directive spelling out when the child spends time with each parent. Even if one parent has sole physical custody, the other generally receives visitation unless the child’s safety is at risk.

• Access to school and medical records remains intact for both parents.
• Parents may communicate with teachers and doctors unless a protective order says otherwise.
• Either parent can seek modification if circumstances change (job hours, relocation, the child’s age, etc.).

2. Four Types of Visitation Orders

Scheduled Visitation

The most common arrangement. A detailed calendar spells out weekdays, alternating weekends, holidays, school breaks, and travel logistics. Judges prefer this structure because it minimizes disputes and allows for enforcement if a parent violates the plan.

Reasonable Visitation

Parents set their own dates case-by-case. Flexibility works when cooperation is high, but courts will convert to a set schedule if arguments arise.

Supervised Visitation

A neutral adult—either a professional supervisor or trusted family member—must be present. Courts order supervision when there are safety concerns, reunification efforts, or allegations of substance abuse. Duration can be as short as a few weeks or extend for years until the parent shows sustained improvement.

No Visitation

Reserved for extreme cases involving ongoing danger (severe abuse, active substance addiction without treatment, or credible abduction threats). The court must find that even supervised contact would jeopardize the child’s welfare.

3. Popular California Visitation Schedules

Below are the formats most frequently approved by California family-law judges. Use these as starting points and customize them around school start times, extracurriculars, and commute distances.

Holidays usually override the base schedule. A common method is to alternate Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve/Day, New Year’s, and July 4th on odd/even-year rotation, with equal split of winter and spring breaks. Summer often grants the non-custodial parent two to six consecutive weeks, offset by virtual contact during the school year.

4. How Courts Decide Visitation

California judges evaluate the best interests of the child under Family Code §3011. Safety is the top priority, followed by a stable routine and healthy bonds with siblings and each parent. Key factors include:

• Health & Safety —evidence of abuse, domestic violence, or substance misuse.
• Stability —school continuity, consistent bedtimes, and steady caregivers.
• Distance —feasible travel time so the child is not living in a car seat.
• Child’s Voice —courts listen closely once the child turns 14, and may appoint minor’s counsel sooner.
• Co-parent Cooperation —emails or texts that show flexibility (“Let me know if 6:30 works better”) carry weight.

5. Negotiating & Documenting Your Plan

Judges sign orders faster when parents present a clear, mutually agreed schedule. Follow these negotiation pointers:

1. Start with the child’s school calendar—anchor everything else around bell times and breaks.
2. Use a co-parenting app (OurFamilyWizard, AppClose, TalkingParents) to time-stamp agreements.
3. Create a travel-expense clause for long-distance flights.
4. Add a “right of first refusal” so the other parent can babysit before hiring third-party care.
5. Review daylight-saving impacts—ambiguous wording can cause spring-forward chaos.

“Exchange every Sunday at 6:00 PM curb-side outside Parent B’s residence. 
Parent B installs an age-appropriate car seat before departure.”

6. Enforcing & Modifying Visitation Orders

When a parent refuses to follow the schedule, start a visitation log noting missed exchanges, arrival times, and any texts showing willful denial. California provides several enforcement tools:

• Contempt —File FL-410 and ask the judge to impose fines or limited custody until compliance.
• Police Stand-By —Bring a certified copy of the order to request assistance at the exchange location.
• Make-Up Time —Courts often award extra days to balance lost visits.

Modification requires a material change in circumstances— frequent cancellations, a relocation, or the child’s new school schedule. File FL-300 with a proposed updated schedule. See our enforcement guide for detailed procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions