Legal Question in Family Law in California

you will need a new court order, changing the custody order. Assuming that the court is the same as the one who made the first order, you will have to show a substantial change of circumstances to get a change in the custody. if the child is approaching 18, the court may hear from her as to her own wishes. Otherwise, you will have to show significant change in the living conditions since the last order of custody (like a new significant other with whom the child doesn't get along, domestic violence, drug use by a member of the household, emotional instability or other reason the mother's home is not a good place) If all issues are the same as the last order, you may be stuck with the status quo. good luck