Visitation
Considering both the needs of the parents and the needs of the children
Visitation Orders in San Francisco & the Bay Area
Protecting Parental Rights and Promoting Family Stability
Creating a fair and practical visitation order is one of the most important steps in ensuring your child’s well-being after a separation or divorce. These orders outline when and how each parent will spend time with their child — balancing both parents’ schedules and the child’s best interests. At Holstrom, Block & Parke, APLC, our San Francisco visitation attorneys help families throughout the Bay Area design, negotiate, and modify visitation arrangements that support healthy relationships and stability for children. With over 300 years of collective legal experience and Certified Family Law Specialists on staff, we provide trusted guidance for even the most complex custody and visitation cases.
Understanding Visitation Rights in California
Under California Family Code §§3100–3105, courts aim to provide both parents with meaningful, ongoing contact with their child:
“The court shall grant reasonable visitation rights to a parent unless it is shown that visitation would be detrimental to the best interest of the child.”
This means that even if you do not have primary custody, you still retain the legal right to visitation — unless a court determines otherwise for serious reasons such as abuse or endangerment.
A visitation order should clearly outline:
- Days and times of scheduled visitation
- Duration of each visit
- Holiday and vacation schedules
- Exchange locations and travel logistics
- Whether supervised visitation is required
Our attorneys can help you establish an agreement that minimizes conflict, reflects your family’s unique schedule, and ensures consistency for your child.
Modifying or Enforcing a Visitation Order
Life changes — and so can visitation needs. If your work schedule shifts, your child changes schools, or one parent relocates, a modification may be appropriate. Courts generally allow adjustments when there is a significant change in circumstances and the modification serves the child’s best interests. If your co-parent refuses to comply with an existing visitation order, our legal team can help you pursue enforcement through the courts while protecting your parental rights.
Mediation and Cooperative Solutions
Whenever possible, our Bay Area family law attorneys encourage parents to resolve visitation issues through mediation rather than litigation. Mediation allows both parties to create customized parenting plans while avoiding the stress, cost, and delay of court proceedings. However, if negotiation is not possible or your ex-partner refuses to cooperate, our firm is fully prepared to advocate for you in court to secure a fair and enforceable visitation order.
Protect Your Relationship with Your Child
Every parent deserves the opportunity to maintain a loving, consistent presence in their child’s life. At Holstrom, Block & Parke, we proudly serve families throughout San Francisco, Alameda, Marin, Contra Costa, and surrounding Bay Area counties, offering strategic representation in all custody and visitation matters. Contact our San Francisco visitation attorneys today to schedule a confidential consultation and protect your parental rights.
