Woodland Hills Child Visitation Attorney 

Personalized Solutions for Your Family's Parenting Plan

Navigating parenting time and visitation arrangements requires both legal expertise and practical understanding of what works for real families. At Kraft Miles, A Law Corporation, our experienced team of child visitation attorneys, led by Joy Kraft Miles, provides comprehensive guidance through the complexities of establishing effective parenting plans in Woodland Hills and throughout the San Fernando Valley. Whether your case is handled at Van Nuys, Chatsworth, or other Los Angeles County Superior Court locations including Pasadena, Stanley Mosk Downtown, or Santa Monica—or even across county lines at the Ventura Courthouse—we bring deep knowledge of local court procedures and judicial preferences to achieve the best outcomes for your family.

Understanding Parenting Plans: Maximizing Time with Your Children

California courts operate under the principle of maximizing each parent's meaningful time with their children, carefully considering both parents' work schedules and the children's school commitments. The goal is creating a sustainable arrangement that serves the child's best interests while respecting each parent's role in their lives.

Common Parenting Plan Schedules That Work

When developing parenting plans for Woodland Hills families, we often recommend considering these proven schedules, each with distinct advantages depending on your family's circumstances:

Week-On/Week-Off Schedule This arrangement alternates full weeks between parents, with exchanges typically occurring at 8 am or school start. While it provides stability with only one exchange per week and longer duration stays, going an entire week without seeing your children can be challenging. This schedule works particularly well for high school-aged children who benefit from the consistency.

2-2-3 Schedule Parents alternate having the children for 2 days, 2 days, then 3 days. The advantage is never going more than 3 days without seeing your children, making it ideal for preschool age and younger children. However, the frequent exchanges (6 within 14 days) can be challenging for some families. Many parents modify this schedule to start on Tuesday, capturing three-day weekends.

2-2-5 Schedule (Also Called 2-2-5-5) Each parent has the same two weekdays every week, with alternating weekends. This provides consistency for planning weekly activities while ensuring shared weekend time. With only 4 exchanges every 14 days and longer duration between visits on some weeks, this arrangement suits elementary and middle-school aged children well.

3-4, 4-3 Schedule This provides fewer exchanges while splitting weekends and maintaining consistency for most days. Parents alternate between having the children for 3 days one week and 4 days the next.

70-30 Schedule (Alternating Weekends Plus One Weekday) One parent has the children during the school week with a mid-week visit to the other parent, who then has alternating weekends. The mid-week visit can be any day and might be just for dinner (2-3 hours) rather than overnight. This arrangement works well when one parent lives farther from school or has a demanding work schedule with availability primarily on weekends.

Each schedule can be modified to accommodate your family's specific needs, including adjusting exchange times, locations, and incorporating holiday schedules. Exchanges at school often provide the most natural transitions for children while minimizing potentially stressful parent interactions.

Critical Differences: Los Angeles vs. Ventura County Mediation
 

 A crucial distinction that affects families throughout the region is understanding how custody mediation works in Los Angeles County Superior Court versus Ventura County Superior Court, as approaches vary significantly throughout California under Family Code Section 3183.
 

Los Angeles County Superior Court: Confidential "Non-Reporting" System

In Los Angeles County, whether your case is heard at Van Nuys, Chatsworth, Pasadena, Stanley Mosk Downtown, or Santa Monica Courthouse:

• Mediation through Family Court Services is confidential
• The mediator does not report to the judge what transpired during mediation
• If parties reach agreement, it's submitted in writing and becomes the judge's order
• If no agreement is reached, the judge only learns "No Agreement was Reached"
• The confidential nature encourages open discussion without fear of statements being used against either party

Ventura County Superior Court: "Recommending" System

The Ventura Courthouse operates differently:

• Parties and children over age 6 may appear, with attorneys present
• If parties and counsel agree, the judge approves their agreement as a court order
• If no agreement is reached, the mediator will recommend via live testimony what they believe serves the children's best interests
• This recommendation carries significant weight with the court

Understanding these distinctions is vital if you have connections to both counties, are considering relocation, or if jurisdictional issues arise. For instance, a family might live in Woodland Hills (served by Van Nuys or Chatsworth courthouses) but have one parent relocating to Ventura County, fundamentally changing how mediation proceeds. Counties throughout California operate as either "recommending" or "reporting" (non-recommending) counties, fundamentally affecting how you approach mediation strategy.

To speak with our experienced Woodland Hills child visitation lawyers, call us at (818) 462-5076 or contact us online today. 

Comprehensive Visitation Legal Services Throughout Los Angeles and Ventura Counties

Our legal services encompass every aspect of developing, negotiating, and when necessary, litigating child visitation schedules tailored to your family's unique needs. With extensive experience in Los Angeles County Superior Court locations (Van Nuys, Chatsworth, Pasadena, Stanley Mosk Downtown, Santa Monica) and Ventura County Superior Court, we provide consistent, high-quality representation regardless of venue:

• Initial visitation requests and modifications - Establishing or updating parenting plans as circumstances change
• Holiday and summer schedule coordination - Creating fair arrangements for special occasions
• Supervised visitation navigation - When safety concerns require structured visitation
• Enforcement of existing orders - Protecting your parenting rights when orders aren't followed
• Relocation and move-away cases - Addressing the complex issues when a parent needs to relocate

We consider factors specific to the San Fernando Valley, including:

• Local school calendars and after-school activities
• Traffic patterns affecting exchange times
• Community resources and programs available to families
• Proximity to extended family and support systems

The Visitation Process: Navigating Los Angeles County Superior Courts

For Woodland Hills residents, family law matters typically proceed through the Van Nuys Courthouse, though cases may also be heard at nearby Chatsworth. Families throughout Los Angeles County may find their cases assigned to Pasadena, Stanley Mosk Downtown, or Santa Monica courthouses depending on residence and filing location. Here's what you can expect:

1. Initial Consultation: We review your situation, discuss your goals, and explain realistic options based on current law and local court tendencies.
   
    
2. Developing Your Parenting Plan: Together, we craft a detailed schedule considering work commitments, school schedules, extracurricular activities, and your children's developmental needs.
   
    
3. Mandatory Mediation: Before any contested hearing, Los Angeles County Superior Court requires confidential mediation through Family Court Services, whether your case is at Van Nuys, Chatsworth, Pasadena, Stanley Mosk Downtown, or Santa Monica. We prepare you thoroughly for this process, ensuring you understand your rights and options.
   
    
4. Court Hearings (If Necessary): When mediation doesn't produce agreement, we advocate forcefully in court, presenting evidence of your commitment to your children's best interests.
   
    

5. Implementation and Modification: Life changes, and so can parenting plans. We help enforce existing orders and pursue modifications when substantial changes in circumstances warrant adjustment.

Why Choose Kraft Miles, A Law Corporation as Your Woodland Hills Visitation Attorney?

Our approach combines legal excellence with practical understanding of family dynamics:

• Decades of Leadership: Joy Kraft Miles brings recognized expertise in complex family law matters
• Technology-Enhanced Service: Secure document handling and efficient communication throughout your case
• Strategic Flexibility: While we pursue negotiated solutions when possible, we're fully prepared for aggressive litigation when necessary
• Local Knowledge: Deep familiarity with Los Angeles County Superior Court procedures at Van Nuys, Chatsworth, Pasadena, Stanley Mosk Downtown, and Santa Monica courthouses, as well as Ventura County Superior Court practices

Personalized Attention: Your family's unique needs drive our strategy, not a one-size-fits-all approach

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the court determine which parenting schedule to use? 

Courts prioritize the child's best interests, examining each parent's availability, the child's age and needs, existing bonds, and practical considerations like distance between homes and school location. The goal is maximizing meaningful time with both parents while maintaining stability.

Can we create a custom schedule that doesn't follow standard patterns? 

Absolutely. While standard schedules provide tested frameworks, courts approve any arrangement that serves the child's best interests and that parents can successfully implement.

What if my co-parent won't follow the parenting plan?

Document all violations carefully. We can seek enforcement through the court, potentially including make-up time, sanctions, or in severe cases, modification of the arrangement.

How do courts handle teenagers who express preferences?

Under Family Code Section 3042, children who are of sufficient age and capacity to reason may express their preference regarding custody or visitation. While California doesn't set a specific age, courts generally give more weight to older children's preferences, particularly teenagers age 14 and older, provided their preference isn't the result of alienation or manipulation. The court must consider and give due weight to the child's wishes but is not bound by them.

Can grandparents obtain visitation rights?

Under Family Code Section 3104, grandparents may petition for visitation rights in certain circumstances, including when the parents are divorced or separated, or when one parent is deceased. The court must find that visitation is in the child's best interest and that a pre-existing bond exists between grandparent and grandchild where visitation is necessary to avoid harm to the child. The court also balances this against parents' fundamental rights to make decisions about their children.

Start Building Your Family's Future Today

Creating an effective parenting plan requires balancing legal requirements with practical realities. Whether your case proceeds through Van Nuys, Chatsworth, or any Los Angeles County Superior Court location—or crosses into Ventura County—our team provides the clear guidance and strong advocacy your family needs.

Whether establishing initial arrangements, modifying existing orders, or enforcing your parenting rights, we bring comprehensive knowledge of both Los Angeles and Ventura County Superior Court procedures to protect your interests. Contact us at (818) 462-5076 to schedule a confidential consultation. We'll help you understand your options, develop a strategic approach, and work toward a parenting arrangement that truly serves your children's best interests while protecting your parental rights.

At Kraft Miles, A Law Corporation, we understand that behind every visitation case is a parent who wants to maintain a meaningful relationship with their children. Our commitment goes beyond legal representation—we're dedicated to helping you achieve sustainable solutions that allow your family to thrive, even through transition.

To speak with our experienced Woodland Hills child visitation lawyers, call us at (818) 462-5076 or contact us online today.