Orange County Child Visitation Attorneys Helping Parents Enforce Their Rights

Child custody laws in California allow for non-custodial parents to have parenting time, which is commonly referred to as visitation. When one parent is granted custody, the other parent is granted visitation rights. This arrangement helps both parents stay in contact with their kids and instills a sense of normalcy through these troubling times.

While there are a variety of factors that can affect the outcome of a parenting time schedule and your visitation rights, an award-winning attorney can help you work towards the best outcome for you and your family. At Sarieh Law Offices, we specialize in family law and have been asked many questions about child visitation, here are the most common ones we have received:

•   How to set up a visitation schedule
•   What is supervised child visitation?
•   Can a child refuse visitation?

How To Set Up A Visitation Schedule

In some cases, the former spouses can draft their own plans for custody and visitation, as long as they feel these schedules are fair to the parents and children. This can be achieved with or without the help of child visitation attorneys, but it is always recommended to have the help of a qualified lawyer.

Once these plans are set, they can be submitted to a judge, who will confirm the plan through a court order. Visitation schedules can be fixed or flexible, but if a visitation schedule cannot be agreed upon, divorce mediation may be needed. If divorce mediation will not work, the parents will have to present their case to the judge.

What Is Supervised Child Visitation?

Supervised visitation is when a noncustodial parent is allowed to visit with the child only if they can be supervised by another adult. This situation is to keep the children safe while supporting the parental relationship as well. 

If the court decides that supervised visitation is needed, it will be added to the parenting plan.  There are certain situations when supervised visitation is necessary, which include:

•   Physical, Sexual, or Emotional abuse of the child or by one parent to another
•   Substance abuse issues
•   Mental illness
•   Child neglect
•   And more…

A judge can decide where these visits will take place, who will monitor these visits, as well if a social worker or similar authority should be present.

Can A Child Refuse Visitation?

While the courts will consider a child’s wishes as they get older, a child under the age of 18 cannot refuse to visit their noncustodial parent unless they will be experiencing physical or mental harm. If the visitation schedule is not followed, the noncustodial parent can take the custodial parent to court. 

If your child is refusing visitation, it is best to speak with your child to learn what their issues are, listen closely, answer their concerns, and encourage them to cooperate with the visitation schedule.

Contact An Award-Winning Child Visitation Law Firm In Orange County, CA

Whether you and your former spouse have worked together to create a fair visitation schedule, or you are a parent that needs a lawyer to help you fight for your rights, Sarieh Law Offices is ready to help. 

We offer years of experience and are specialized in family law, meaning we know what it takes to protect the best interests of you and your child. To learn more about your rights as a parent, contact us at 714-694-7723.