About Child Custody & Visitation Document Preparation
Custody requests may be part of a divorce, parentage case or an existing family court matter. The documents must clearly state the orders the customer wants the court to consider and may require information about prior cases and where the children have lived.
The customer chooses the requested schedule and terms. A California Legal Document Assistant cannot recommend what arrangement is best or predict how a judge may rule.
California availability: This page concerns self-help document preparation for California matters. Services, procedures and pricing vary by independently owned office.
Documents and information commonly requested
The exact package depends on the customer’s selected service, instructions and local requirements. Common items may include:
- Custody and visitation request
- Child-custody jurisdiction declaration
- Parenting-schedule attachment
- Existing-order attachments
- Supporting declaration supplied by customer
- Service and hearing forms
How document preparation works
Bring current orders, case numbers and complete residence information for each child. Provide the exact schedule and other orders you want written into the selected documents.
You remain responsible for reviewing the completed documents, confirming that your information and directions were entered correctly, signing where required and meeting applicable deadlines. Ask the local office which clerical filing, recording, publication, notary or service options it offers.
Common questions
What does child custody & visitation document preparation include?
Preparation may include a custody request, parenting schedule, jurisdiction declaration, customer-supplied declaration and related service or hearing forms.
Is child custody & visitation document preparation available at every California By The People office?
No. Service availability, process, timing and pricing vary among independently owned California offices. Contact the office that would prepare your documents.
Can a By The People office tell me what choices to make?
No. The customer must select the service and provide the decisions and information used to prepare the documents. Offices do not provide legal advice or representation.
Are filing, recording, publication or service fees included?
Third-party charges are separate unless the local office specifically states otherwise in its written quote.