What supervised visitation costs in California
Professional supervised visits in California most often cost about $50 to $125 per hour on the published rate pages we reviewed. Many providers have a 2 hour minimum and charge a one time intake fee for each parent. Nonprofit and grant programs can cost less, and some are free for eligible families.
Typical prices in California
- Professional supervised visit: $50 to $125 per hour. Rates change with the number of children, protective orders, and holidays. Many providers have a 2 hour minimum.
- Intake or registration fee: $25 to $100 per parent. Usually a one time fee. Some providers charge a single case fee instead, which is not counted here.
- Supervised exchange: $50 to $100 per exchange. Some providers add travel fees or charge for each extra child.
- Virtual supervised visit: $45 to $100 per hour. Some providers charge the same hourly rate as in person visits.
- Written observation report: $10 to $100 per report. Some providers include reports in the hourly fee or include a few free each month. Others charge per page or per visit covered.
Free and low cost options
- Access to Visitation grant program (Judicial Council of California): Federal grant funds go to superior court family law divisions to pay for supervised visitation and exchange services. Ask your local family court which program serves your county.
- Orange County Superior Court, Keeping Kids Safe: Lists a no cost professional supervised visitation program for eligible low income noncustodial parents with a family court order, up to two hours a week.
- Community Human Services: Nonprofit family service center in Salinas and Seaside. Visit costs use a sliding fee scale based on household income. Intake is $75.
- Gateway of Hope: Nonprofit center in Sacramento. Published rates are $50 per hour for standard cases and $85 per hour for cases with special circumstances.
Who pays under California law
- California's supervised visitation order form, FL-341(A), lets the judge split payment for the provider by percentage between the petitioner, the respondent, and others.
- Family Code 3031 covers when a court may require a third person to be present during visits in domestic violence cases. It does not set who pays.