About Request for Visitation (Guardianship)
To request a visitation order or modification of an existing visitation order in a guardianship case.
When you'd use it: When a party (parent, guardian, grandparent, or other relative) seeks to establish or change visitation rights with a child in an active guardianship proceeding.
Where to get the official form
The official version of Request for Visitation (Guardianship) is published as a PDF by the California courts. We checked this link and it resolved to a form on an official court or government website — always download the current version directly from the source rather than a third-party copy:
Verified official PDF
Download Request for Visitation (Guardianship) (PDF) →
Source: ventura.courts.ca.gov
Link last checked: May 31, 2026
How to file Request for Visitation (Guardianship) in California
- Step 1 — Confirm you have the correct formUse Request for Visitation (Guardianship) (VN171) when when a party (parent, guardian, grandparent, or other relative) seeks to establish or change visitation rights with a child in an active guardianship proceeding. Double-check it's the right form for your situation — California probate forms are revised periodically, so verify the name and number against your court's current form list before you start.
- Step 2 — Complete every required fieldFill out Request for Visitation (Guardianship) carefully and review it for errors before filing. Probate cases can already take months — a small mistake on the form can set your timeline back further.
- Step 3 — Get it notarized or witnessed if requiredSome probate forms must be signed in front of a notary or witnesses. Check the instructions on the form itself, and arrange notarization before you file if it's required.
- Step 4 — File it with the correct courtSubmit Request for Visitation (Guardianship) to the probate court or county clerk handling the estate — usually in the California county where the deceased lived. Ask the clerk how they prefer to receive filings (in person, by mail, or e-filing).