Murrieta CA Visitation Lawyer

Helping Parents Understand Their Visitation Rights in California

Visitation can become a heated topic. In order to make sure that the best interests of your children are prioritized in your situation, obtaining the legal representation of a skilled Murrieta visitation attorney is crucial. Founding attorney Michael D. Iverson of the Law Offices of Michael D. Iverson, APC is backed by more than 10 years of experience and has been recognized for his commitment to excellence and client service. In fact, he was the recipient of the 10 Best Attorney in Client Satisfaction award from the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys in both 2017 and 2018.

What Is Reasonable Visitation in California?

If a parent does not have primary custody of the children, a visitation schedule is typically drawn up. Reasonable visitation means that the parents can work together to determine a schedule that includes some flexibility.

The parent with primary custody often has more control over the following:

• Dates of the visits
• Times of the visits
• Duration of the visits

It is important to realize that judges do take note if the custodial parent is acting vindictively towards the other parent and is not flexible. In addition, if one parent has a pattern of being late to visits or missing visits altogether, a different solution may need to be reached.

Fixed Visitation

In some cases, a fixed visitation schedule is drawn up with the court. This is often used when the parents are hostile with each other and when it is in the best interests of the child to have a predictable schedule with one or both parents.

What Age Can a Child Refuse Visitation in California?

Since custody and visitation orders are legally binding, the child and their parents must abide by the terms until the child reaches adulthood.

Can a 17 Year Old Refuse Visitation in California?

No, the legal age for a child to refuse visitation in California is 18 years old. By that age, any parent will not be able to force a child to continue to see you. In addition, a family court will no longer enforce any possession or visitation clauses.

Can Grandparents Petition for Visitation?

In California, grandparents can only file for visitation rights if:

• the parents are living separately;
• a parent’s whereabouts have been unknown for a month or longer;
• the child has been adopted by a stepparent;
• the child does not live with either parent;
• one of the parents joins the petition;
• one of the parents of the child is deceased; or
• the parents are unmarried.

Visitation rights are based on a preexisting relationship between the grandparent and child. However, California does not require a certain period of time for there to be a bond between the grandparent and grandchild. The court will also need to balance the grandparent’s visitation with the parents’ rights to make decisions for their child.

Contact the Murrieta Visitation Attorney at the Law Offices of Michael D. Iverson Today

Whether you are dealing with an abusive parent wishing to visit your children or dealing with grandparents’ rights to visitation, our Murrieta visitation attorney can help you navigate the situation and reach the best possible outcome for you and your loved ones.