If you and your ex can agree on a child custody modification, you can potentially have such a modification put into place via a stipulation which is then signed by a family court judge. This stipulation then becomes the new, legally enforceable child custody and visitation order. It is important that—no matter how friendly the relationship between you and your ex—that any change is always court-sanctioned, otherwise your co-parent could report you for kidnapping, even if the two of you orally agreed to a modification. If there is no agreement between parents, then you will find yourselves back in court, potentially letting a judge determine whether a modification is warranted. The parent asking for the modification must be able to show there has been a substantial change in circumstances that warrants the modification.