California custody help

California Custody Agreement Help for Parents

California custody orders are shaped by the Family Code's custody sections, and several of those rules only apply if your order includes them. Check what your order actually says before assuming a rule applies to you.

California guides on this site

Start with the guide that matches the paragraph you're trying to read.

California parenting plan guideUnderstand common California parenting-plan sections and what to check first. California relocation clause custodyWhat to review when one parent wants to move or change distance logistics. How to read a parenting planA clause-by-clause method for finding the part that controls your question. Custody agreement violatedHow to document problems before escalating.

California rules that often show up in custody orders

These are general rules from the California Family Code. Your order, local court rules and the facts of your case can change how they apply.

  1. Move notice, if your order requires it. A custody order can require a parent to notify the other parent before moving the child's residence for more than 30 days. The notice goes by certified mail, return receipt requested, and should be given at least 45 days before the move where feasible, to leave time for mediation. Check whether your order includes this clause. (Cal. Fam. Code § 3024)
  2. Mediation comes first. When custody or visitation is contested, the court must send the contested issues to mediation. Domestic violence cases follow a separate protocol. (§ 3170)
  3. A child 14 or older can speak. A child 14 or older who wants to address the court about custody or visitation must be allowed to, unless the judge finds it is not in the child's best interest and says why on the record. Younger children may be allowed to as well. (§ 3042)

Source: California Family Code, Division 8 (Custody of Children). Checked September 2026. Laws change; confirm the current text or ask a family-law attorney licensed in California. Educational only, not legal advice.