Child Visitation Attorney in Beverly Hills

Licensed Since 1979. Over 50 Years of Combined Family Law Experience.

Cary Goldstein, Esq., PC represents Beverly Hills parents in the full range of child visitation matters, from establishing an initial order through divorce, separation, or paternity proceedings to enforcing an order a co-parent has violated or modifying a schedule that no longer fits. The firm focuses exclusively on palimony and family law, and its combined legal team brings over 50 years of family law experience to every case. Parents throughout Southern California can schedule a free in-person consultation to discuss their situation.

Visitation disputes in Beverly Hills are heard in the Los Angeles Superior Court, Family Law Division, most often at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse. Each type of proceeding carries its own procedural requirements, and the path forward depends on whether a parent needs a new order, wants to enforce an existing one, or is seeking a change to a schedule that no longer works.

If a visitation order has been violated or you need a schedule put in place, contact Cary Goldstein, Esq., PC at (310) 935-0711 to schedule a free in-person consultation.

Types of Visitation Orders in California

California courts structure visitation orders differently depending on the circumstances of each family. Understanding the distinctions matters when negotiating a parenting plan or responding to a petition.

• Unsupervised visitation allows a parent to spend time with the child without a third party present. This is the most common arrangement when no safety concerns exist.
• Supervised visitation requires a neutral third party to be present during visits. Courts order this when a parent’s behavior, substance use, or mental health makes unsupervised contact inappropriate for the child.
• Monitored visitation falls between the two, with a designated monitor observing contact under less restrictive conditions than full supervision.
• Reasonable visitation gives parents flexibility to work out a schedule between themselves, while fixed visitation orders set specific dates and times to reduce conflict.

A visitation schedule can cover regular parenting time, holiday exchanges, school-year calendars, and vacation periods. When sole physical custody is granted, the non-custodial parent typically retains visitation rights unless the court finds that contact would be detrimental to the child.

California law also permits grandparents and certain other relatives to petition for visitation once the parents are no longer in an intact relationship, provided there is a pre-existing bond with the child and the visitation serves the child’s best interests.

How California Courts Determine Visitation

Every visitation decision in the Los Angeles Superior Court is governed by the best interests of the child standard. Judges in the Family Law Division weigh a range of factors when setting or adjusting a visitation order: the child’s health, safety, and welfare; each parent’s ability to provide a stable environment; any documented history of domestic violence or substance abuse; and each parent’s willingness to support the child’s relationship with the other parent.

Under California Family Code section 3042, a child’s preference may also be considered. Children 14 and older who wish to address the court are generally permitted to do so, though preference is one factor among many rather than a deciding one. Where substance abuse is alleged, the court can require drug testing as a condition for unsupervised visitation.

Enforcement & Modification of Visitation Orders in Beverly Hills

A court-ordered visitation schedule isn’t a suggestion. When a parent repeatedly withholds court-ordered visitation, the other parent can bring contempt proceedings in the Los Angeles Superior Court. Cary Goldstein, Esq., PC assists clients in documenting violations and building the evidentiary record needed for enforcement petitions.

Modifying an existing order requires a different showing. The requesting parent must generally demonstrate a significant change in circumstances since the last order was entered and that the modification serves the child’s best interests. Common grounds include a parent’s relocation, a change in work schedule, the child’s evolving educational or medical needs, or newly arising safety concerns.

Emergency relief may be available through the Stanley Mosk Courthouse when a child’s immediate safety is at risk or a parent is wrongfully withholding the child. One important point: informal agreements between parents to adjust visitation aren’t legally enforceable unless the court approves and enters the change. The firm handles modification petitions for Beverly Hills families and can advise on when emergency relief is appropriate.

Why Beverly Hills Families Retain Cary Goldstein, Esq., PC

Cary Goldstein has been licensed to practice law in California since 1979, accumulating decades of family law proceedings in Los Angeles County courts along with the institutional knowledge and relationships that come with long-standing local practice. He holds a Distinguished Peer-Reviewed Rating from Martindale-Hubbell and was selected to Super Lawyers in 2004–2005 and 2007–2010.

Recognition & High-Profile Representation

Mr. Goldstein’s standing in the California family law community extends beyond the courtroom. He has appeared as a family law commentator on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Larry King Live, CNN, Fox News, Dateline, and Tru TV. The firm also represented the Bakley family in the Robert Blake trial, including Bonnie Lee Bakley’s initial paternity and prenuptial case against Robert Blake, a proceeding that drew significant public and legal attention.

The Legal Team

The legal team includes Sarah Clark, whose background covers divorce, child custody, child support, domestic violence restraining orders, and appellate work in family law matters including palimony rights and domestic violence restraining orders. Lauren E. Ashley has been with the firm since 2016 and previously represented the People of California in criminal proceedings at the Santa Barbara District Attorney’s Office. Together, the team’s combined family law experience exceeds 50 years.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Child Visitation Lawyer in Beverly Hills

Whether a co-parent is violating an order, circumstances have changed since the last schedule was set, or a visitation arrangement still needs to be established, Cary Goldstein, Esq., PC can help Beverly Hills parents understand their options and pursue an appropriate course of action. The firm serves clients throughout Southern California.

To speak with a child visitation attorney at Cary Goldstein, Esq., PC, call (310) 935-0711 or request a free in-person consultation online.