Legal Question in Family Law in California

If you are not married to the mother, you must either have both signed and filed a voluntary declaration of paternity at the time of birth or thereafter, or you will have to file a petition in court for a determination of paternity. You then have to petition the court for custody, visitation and support orders, either in the paternity proceeding, or as a new case if paternity has already been established.

If you are married or in a domestic partnership, you file a dissolution action along with your motion for custody and visitation.