Request for Order - Child Custody/Visitation
Petitioner Natalie Kenney (Mother) filed a request for order (RFO) on April 9, 2026 seeking temporary sole custody of the parties’ minor children. The parties have had an informal and flexible week on/week off time share for almost a year.
Mother’s RFO expressed concerns about Father’s compliance with the terms of his probation, his excessive cannabis use and unsafe parenting practices. The parties were referred to Family Court Services. FCS interviewed both parents on Mary 29, 2026 and Father’s probation officer on June 3, 2026, who confirmed Father is in compliance with the terms of his probation, has completed his anger management class and is testing negative for alcohol via monthly urinalysis.
The Court does not believe a radical shift in timeshare would be in the best interests of the children, but agrees with Mother that additional guiderails are warranted, particularly given the recency and severity of Father’s alcohol and anger related problems. The Court finds it is in the best interest of the children to adopt the FCS recommendation as modified and augmented herein.
1. The parents shall share joint legal custody of all three children. The parents shall share in the responsibility and confer in good faith on matters concerning the children’s health, education and welfare. Both parents shall have access to the children’s school, medical, mental health, and dental records and the right to consult with professionals who are providing services to the children.
2. The parents shall share joint physical custody of all three children.
3. The children shall continue to live with both parents on a “week on/week off” basis. Avery shall not be forced to stay at Father’s for the entire week if she does not wish to do so.
4. Any changes to the schedule are permitted provided the parents agree to the changes.
5. Father shall be permitted to travel with the children to Disneyland from 7/28 to 7/31.
6. Father shall be permitted to travel with the children to Rhode Island for 9 nights between 6/27 and 7/11.
7. Natalie shall be permitted to have up to two non-consecutive vacation weeks with the children, as arranged and agreed upon.
8. Father shall continue to be law abiding and in compliance with all terms of his probation.
9. Father shall not consume any alcohol. Father shall register with a remote alcohol monitoring service such as Soberlink and test at least 3 times per day when the children are in his care. Father shall provide real time results to Mother. Father to pay for testing. Failure to test may result in supervised visitation. A positive test will result in supervised visitation. In the event of supervision, Father to pay for all supervision.
Looking for case law or statutes not cited here? Search published authorities
Examples: “Why did the court rule this way?” · “What were the procedural grounds?” · “Is appearance required?”
10. Father shall not use any drugs or any prescription drugs beyond their prescribed amount while the children are in his care or at least 12 hours prior. Father may not be intoxicated on cannabis while the children are in his care.
11. Father shall not expose any of the children to his cannabis use or have any drugs or drug paraphernalia visible or accessible.
12. When driving with the children, Father shall drive in a safe manner.
13. Both parents shall ensure the children are properly supervised at all times. Father may not go to sleep before the children and must ensure they children are put to bed properly and prepared for the next day of school.
14. Both parents shall take a co-parenting class and bring proof of successful completion to any future mediations or court hearings.
15. Neither parent shall involve the children in the litigation or discuss the court proceedings with them. Neither parent shall encourage the children to withhold information from the other parent, nor punish or criticize them for speaking with the other parent.
The Court will conduct a review hearing on September 22, 2026 at 9:00 AM in Department Gand the parents shall be re-referred back to Family Court Services, including for an interview with Avery and Garyson, prior to the review hearing.
Counsel for Mother shall prepare the formal order and findings after hearing.