Request for Order of Child Custody, Visitation (Parenting Time)
1 SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA 2 COUNTY OF SAN FRANCISCO 3 UNIFIED FAMILY COURT 4
5) 6 CATHERINE JEANETTE RACHFORD,) Case Number: FDI-14-782044) 7 Petitioner) Hearing Date: June 11, 2026) 8 VS.) Hearing Time: 9:00 AM) 9 NICOLAI GROSSMAN,) Department: 403) 10 Respondent) Presiding: BOBBY P. LUNA) 11) 12 REQUEST FOR ORDER OF CHILD CUSTODY, VISITATION (PARENTING TIME) 13 TENTATIVE RULING 14 Having read and considered the pleadings, declarations, and other evidence submitted in this matter, the 15 Court makes the following findings and orders: 16 A. Procedural History 17 1) The parties subject to this proceeding are Petitioner Catherine Rachford (Mother) and Respondent 18 Nicolai Grossman (Father).
They share one minor child: Clara Bea Rachford Grossman, age 13 19 (DOB: 10/19/12). 20 2) On December 12, 2025, Mother filed a Request for Order seeking modification of the existing 21 child custody and visitation orders and orders related to travel with the minor child. Mother 22 requests sole legal custody and to maintain joint physical custody. As to parenting time, Mother 23 requests what appear to be orders permitting visitation with Father at the minor child’s discretion. 24 Lastly, Mother seeks orders permitting travel with the minor child without Father’s consent. 25 3) On February 2, 2026, the matter was heard on the Court’s Readiness calendar.
The Court 26 referred the parties to Family Court Services (FCS) Mediation on February 18, 2026 and set the 27 matter for return hearing on April 14, 2026. 28 4) On March 23, 2026, a Tier II Report was completed. The Court has read and considered this 29 report.
1 5) On April 6, 2026, Mother filed a “Reply/Update” in preparation for the Court’s originally 2 scheduled April 14, 2026 hearing date, which has been read and considered by the Court. 3 6) At the April 14, 2026 hearing, Father was not present, but was represented by counsel. The Court 4 issued the following orders: 5 a. The Court finds good cause to continue the matter to June 11, 2026. 6 b. Mother shall have temporary final decision-making authority on all matters related to the 7 minor’s healthcare. 8 c.
Either parent may travel with the minor child anywhere withing the United States during 9 said parent’s own custodial time, with notice to – but without consent from – the other 10 parent. For out-of-state travel, notice shall be given at least 21 days in advance of the 11 departure date. 12 7) On June 4, 2026, Father filed a Responsive Declaration wherein he asks the Court to “uphold its 13 previous orders and the parties’ previous agreements, and order participation in co-parenting 14 counseling to prevent further litigation.” 15 8) On June 5, 2026, Mother filed a Reply Declaration, which has been read and considered by the 16 Court. 17 B.
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Findings and Order 18 1) This Court has jurisdiction to make child custody orders in this case under the Uniform Child 19 Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act. A violation of this order may subject the party in 20 violation to civil or criminal penalties, or both. The country of habitual residence of the minor 21 child(ren) is the United States. 22 2) Mother’s request to modify the existing child custody orders is DENIED. 23 3) Mother’s request to modify the existing parenting plan is DENIED.
Mother shall ensure that the 24 minor child is presented to Father for him to exercise his court-ordered parenting time. The 25 minor child does not get to decide if and when she has parenting time with Father. That is not a 26 child function, and the Court expects both parents to follow the existing parenting time schedule. 27 4) Both parents are ordered to sign up for and participate in co-parenting counseling. The parents 28 are ordered to participate jointly. The costs will be shared equally, and the number of sessions 29
1 shall be at the discretion of the selected therapist. The following protocol shall be used to select 2 the co-parenting counselor: 3 a. Father will submit the names of three professionals to Mother within 7 days of June 11, 4 2026. Father may email mother the names of the selected professionals. 5 b. Mother shall select one professional from the list of names submitted by Father. Mother 6 shall make her selection (and email Father) within 7 days of receipt of the list of names 7 from Father. 8 c.
Upon selection by Mother, both parties shall contact the provider (within 48 hours) and 9 set up their first appointment with him/her. 10 d. Both parties shall equally pay the costs for such counseling. 11 e. The co-parent counseling shall terminate, upon the recommendation of the selected 12 therapist. 13 5) All prior orders, not in conflict with the orders made herein, shall remain in full force and effect. 14 6) The Court will prepare the Findings and Order After Hearing. 15
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