What is the difference between child custody and child visitation?

In California family law, custody covers legal rights and living arrangements, while visitation (parenting time) defines the specific schedule for the non-custodial parent.

• Legal Custody: Refers to the decision-making authority for major aspects of your child’s life, such as healthcare, schooling, and religious upbringing. This can be shared (joint) or sole.

• Physical Custody: Specifies where the child primarily resides.

• Visitation: Outlines the designated time (weekends, holidays, summer schedules) the non-custodial parent spends with the child to ensure a strong, ongoing relationship.

At States Family Law, our goal is to help you build structured, enforceable parenting plans that minimize conflict and preserve vital parent-child bonds.