Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APC Serving Los Angeles
Visitation Rights
Child Visitation Attorney in Los Angeles
A Board-Certified Family Law Specialist & Former CPA, Fighting for Your Parenting Time
A visitation order does more than set a calendar. It defines how present each parent is in a child’s life, and in California it directly affects how guideline child support is calculated. At Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APC, we handle child visitation matters in Los Angeles and Santa Monica with that full picture in mind, addressing both the parenting plan itself and the financial obligations that run alongside it.
Our lead attorney brings a credential that matters for this kind of work: he is a Certified Family Law Specialist (CFLS), certified by the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization, and a former Certified Public Accountant. He can analyze a proposed parenting-time schedule and recognize how shifting the timeshare percentage can affect the child support number. We can.
If you’re facing a visitation dispute or need a parenting plan drafted, call us at (213) 798-4854 or use our contact form to request a consultation.
Why Los Angeles Parents Work With Our Firm
With over 46 years of combined legal experience, our firm has guided clients through contested custody hearings, negotiated parenting plans, and enforcement proceedings across Los Angeles County. Clients work directly with one attorney from the initial consultation through the conclusion of the case. You won’t be transferred to a paralegal or handed off between attorneys partway through your matter.
Our lead attorney’s CPA background is particularly relevant when visitation and child support are being decided simultaneously. In California, the percentage of time a child spends with each parent, the timeshare, is one of the factors used in calculating guideline child support. A schedule that looks fair on paper may carry unintended financial consequences. We evaluate both before agreeing to anything.
Types of Visitation Orders Under California Law
California family courts issue visitation orders tailored to each family’s circumstances. Understanding the available options helps parents enter court proceedings with realistic expectations.
The four main types of visitation orders:
Scheduled visitation: A fixed calendar specifying days, times, holidays, and vacations. This is the most common structure when parents can’t agree informally.
Reasonable visitation: An open-ended arrangement leaving the details to the parents to work out. This requires ongoing cooperation and communication.
Supervised visitation: A third party must be present during visits. Courts typically order this when there are documented concerns about domestic violence, substance abuse, or a parent’s extended absence from the child’s life.
No visitation: Ordered in limited circumstances where any contact, even supervised, would endanger the child’s health or safety.
Under California Family Code Section 3011, courts weigh the child’s health, safety, and welfare above all else. Judges also consider any history of abuse, the nature and frequency of each parent’s existing contact with the child, and whether either parent has a pattern of substance abuse. This is the best interest of the child standard, and it governs contested visitation decisions in Los Angeles courts.
Family Court Services Mediation in Los Angeles County
Before a contested custody or visitation matter reaches a judge, Los Angeles County Superior Court requires both parents to attend mediation through Family Court Services (FCS). This step is mandatory. If the parents reach an agreement, the mediator submits the signed parenting plan to the court. If they don’t, the case proceeds to a hearing.
FCS mediation is confidential. The mediator doesn’t report the substance of what was discussed to the judge, which gives both parents room to negotiate without fear that their statements will be used against them. The Family Law Division of the Los Angeles Superior Court operates out of the Stanley Mosk Courthouse in Downtown Los Angeles, and Family Court Services maintains a mediation location in Santa Monica as well. We represent clients through the FCS process and, when an agreement isn’t reached, through the hearing that follows.
Modifying or Enforcing a Visitation Order in Los Angeles
Once a Los Angeles court issues a visitation order, both parents are legally required to follow it. Denying court-ordered visitation without a subsequent court order generally isn’t permitted. Disputes over child support, disagreements about a parent’s new relationship, or general frustration with the other parent don’t create a legal basis for withholding parenting time.
When a parent violates a visitation order, or when circumstances have changed enough to justify a different arrangement, a Request for Order filed with the Los Angeles County Superior Court sets the process in motion. Courts may modify an existing custody or visitation order when a parent can demonstrate a significant change in circumstances since the original order was issued. We help clients enforce orders that are being ignored and petition for modifications when life has shifted in ways the original parenting plan didn’t anticipate.
The Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APC has represented me since 2012 and has handled my case competently and professionally. They successfully assisted me towards my permanent residency despite the complications. Their expertise and care yielded the desired results.
R.L.
“This law firm is really very dedicated to a fast result of whatever needs to be done in the right way and indeed at the very right time.”
“This law firm is really very dedicated to a fast result of whatever needs to be done in the right way and indeed at the very right time.”
J.I.
“He also helped me with my petition for my wife and my youngest son. They are now here in California with me.”
“He also helped me with my petition for my wife and my youngest son. They are now here in California with me.”
R.L.
“Professional, kindhearted, and timely service.”
I struggled with two other lawyers for two years. The Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APC, ended the bullying and delays. This team is professional, respectable, and kindhearted. They expertly handled my case, securing a favorable outcome. Highly recommend!
R.P.
“Thank you for making our dream possible.”
“Thank you for making our dream possible.”
S.E.
“No words to say but a big "Thank You" for all the help and confidence you gave me.”
“No words to say but a big "Thank You" for all the help and confidence you gave me.”
O.F.
“Consultation is answered swiftly (same day inquiry and feedback), provides assistance in every step of the way, application is processed promptly.”
“Consultation is answered swiftly (same day inquiry and feedback), provides assistance in every step of the way, application is processed promptly.”
L.M.
“Her kind and gentle voice are enough to reassure you "this too will pass".”
“Her kind and gentle voice are enough to reassure you "this too will pass".”
Our firm knows Los Angeles family law courts and prepares clients for how local judges approach custody and visitation matters. That familiarity shapes how we draft parenting plans, frame arguments, and advise clients before they walk into a mediation session or courtroom. Whether you’re establishing a parenting plan for the first time, disputing a proposed schedule, or seeking to enforce an order the other parent isn’t following, we can help. We serve clients throughout Los Angeles and in Santa Monica.
Call (213) 798-4854 or submit our contact form to schedule your consultation with a Los Angeles child visitation lawyer.
