What Is Form FL-311? The Child Custody and Visitation Application Attachment Explained

 

Disclaimer This article is for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Court forms, filing requirements, and procedures are subject to change. Always verify current form versions at courts.ca.gov and consult a licensed California attorney for guidance specific to your situation. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship with SuperDocs or any attorney.

 

If you handle child custody matters in California, Form FL-311 — the Child Custody and Visitation Application Attachment — is the document that turns a general request for custody orders into a specific, workable proposal the court can act on. It is filed as an attachment to FL-300 whenever custody or visitation is at issue.

An FL-311 that is vague, internally inconsistent, or incomplete leaves the court without a clear picture of what is being requested — and leaves the client without a clear order if the request is granted.

 

Why FL-311 Matters

Courts need specificity to make workable custody orders. A request for “reasonable visitation” or “joint custody” without further detail gives the court nothing concrete to order and gives the parties nothing clear to follow. FL-311 is designed to provide that specificity.

 

When Is FL-311 Required?

FL-311 must be filed whenever FL-300 includes a request for custody or visitation orders, including:

•     Initial requests for temporary custody or visitation orders

•     Post-judgment requests to modify an existing custody or visitation order

•     Requests to establish a parenting plan in a parentage action

•     Any FL-300 filing where the boxes for legal custody, physical custody, or visitation are checked

 

Legal Custody vs. Physical Custody

•     Legal custody — the right to make decisions about the child’s health, education, and welfare. Joint means both parents share decision-making; sole means one parent has that authority.

•     Physical custody — where the child lives and spends time. Joint means significant time with both parents; primary with one parent and visitation for the other is also common.

 

How to Complete FL-311: Section-by-Section Guide

1. Case Caption

Enter party names and case number exactly as they appear on FL-300 and all other filed documents.

2. Child Information

List each child by name, date of birth, and age. Every child covered by the custody request must be listed.

3. Current Custody and Visitation Arrangement

Describe the current arrangement — where the children are currently living and what the existing parenting schedule looks like.

4. Proposed Legal Custody

State clearly whether you are requesting sole or joint legal custody. If requesting joint, consider proposing a tie-breaking mechanism or allocating specific decision-making authority.

5. Proposed Physical Custody

State clearly whether you are requesting sole or joint physical custody. If requesting joint, the visitation schedule section must provide specific details.

6. Proposed Visitation Schedule

A complete visitation schedule should address regular weekday and weekend schedule, holiday schedule, summer schedule, school breaks, alternating arrangements, and transportation logistics. The more specific the proposed schedule, the less room there is for post-order disputes.

7. Travel and Passport

If international travel is a concern, specify whether written consent is required for out-of-state or international travel and for passport applications.

8. Other Custody and Visitation Issues

Address right of first refusal, communication between the child and non-custodial parent, notification requirements, and any other provisions specific to the family’s circumstances.

 

Mistakes and Best Practices

The most common problems to avoid:

•     Proposing joint custody without specifying the actual parenting schedule

•     Omitting the holiday schedule — this is where most post-order disputes arise

•     Listing children inconsistently between FL-311, FL-300, and FL-105

•     Failing to address transportation and exchange logistics

 

And the workflow habits that prevent them:

•     Complete FL-311 before the client meeting so you can review the proposed schedule together

•     Draft the holiday schedule as a complete calendar — go through the year month by month

•     Pair FL-311 with a supporting declaration that explains the factual basis for the proposed arrangement

 

Companion Forms Filed with FL-311

•     FL-300 — Request for Order (FL-311 is an attachment and cannot be filed without it)

•     FL-105 — UCCJEA Declaration

•     FL-341 — Child Custody and Visitation Order

•     FL-320 — Responsive Declaration to Request for Order

 

How SuperDocs Can Help

SuperDocs helps California firms complete court forms faster — no long case setup, no forms about forms. Just open a court form and start typing. Contacts and shared case details fill in automatically, and information entered on one form flows through to related forms in the same case. Checkboxes, dates, assets, and other details are tracked behind the scenes so nothing gets missed.

For FL-311 filings, child information, party names, and case details entered once carry through to FL-300, FL-105, FL-341, and related forms in the same case automatically.

Spend less time on re-entry, more time on the case.

•     Open any court form and start typing — no lengthy setup required

•     Shared case details and contacts are available across related forms — enter data once and reuse it throughout the case

•     Assets, dates, and case details tracked and reused across the entire case

•     Review and edit any field before printing or downloading

•     Save client profiles for use throughout the lifecycle of the case

 

 

Ready to Automate Your Court Forms? SuperDocs auto-populates CJC court forms in seconds. Try it free for 3 months — no payment required.  Get Started Free at superdocs.com