Child Custody in a Divorce in Florida

If children are involved in your divorce in Florida you are probably concerned about child custody and visitation. The State of Florida has one overriding factor in child custody issues: What are the best interests of the children? This should also be the main concern of the parents. Divorce in Florida can be a traumatic experience for children and every effort should be made to reduce the emotional effect on them. You may be getting a divorce from your spouse but you will always be a parent.

In 2008 Florida divorce laws were changed drastically regarding child custody. The terms custody, visitation, primary residential parent and secondary residential parent were replaced by shared parental responsibility, time sharing and parenting plans. The courts were overwhelmed by parents fighting to be designated the primary residential parent. Florida divorce laws now encourage equal responsibility for all decisions that need to be made in a child's life.

In a divorce in Florida the parents will typically be granted shared custody of the child and equal rights in making joint decisions regarding the child's welfare. If there is major disagreement on some aspect such as education, religion or medical needs of the child the court may designate one parent primary control over that aspect.

In rare cases sole custody may be granted to one parent. This is usually based on child abuse, family violence or continuous conflict between the parents. Sole custody will only be granted by the courts where it can be proven that shared custody would be detrimental to the child.

In the final decree of a divorce in Florida there must be a parenting plan that explains the shared parental responsibility and time sharing schedule. Typically, these are agreed on by the parents or through mediation and compromise. If the parents cannot agree a trial will be held and the judge will make a decision based on Florida divorce laws. This may also involve a child custody evaluation by a third party such as a family counselor or psycologist. In theory the father and mother have the same divorce rights regarding parenting and time sharing but in practice the mother is typically given special consideration as the guiding force in the children's lives. Children over the age of 12 may be asked their preference regarding time sharing. Once the court has evaluated all of the evidence it will provide a parenting plan with details of the arrangement.

There are over 20 factors the Florida divorce laws consider in child custody. For more information on your divorce rights in child custody see the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act. Just remember that the State of Florida will be considering the best interests of the children and you should be doing the same. It is very important that the children are subjected to as little stress as possible in a divorce in Florida.

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Change in Child Custody Laws - Time-Sharing in Florida

The Florida legislature recently enacted laws that abolished the concept of "primary" and "secondary" child custody as well as "visitation." The court system was overwhelmed with parents who were fighting not only about at whose home the minor would spend most of his time, but also over who should have the title of primary custodian. Many believed that, if they were deemed the "secondary" custodian, then they were also a second-class parent. Further, many parties resented that they had to "visit" the child rather than live with or spend time with their kin. In an effort to help parents avoid fighting over semantics, the Florida legislature adopted the concept of "time-sharing" to replace the old regime of awarding custody to one parent or the other.

The Florida Legislature also modified and expanded the factors that courts must consider when making a determination on the issue of time-sharing. The overriding concern remains the best interests of the child. There are now twenty factors for consideration, some of which are highlighted below:

· The ability of each parent to have a close relationship with his or her son or daughter;

· The ability of each parent to work with each other;

· The ability of each party to put the needs of the child before his or her own needs;

· How parental responsibilities will likely be divided when the divorce is finalized;

· Whether either either side will require some sort of day care during his or her time-sharing schedule;

· How long the minor has lived in a stable home;

· Whether the soon to be ex-spouses live near each other and the youth's school;

· How well the youngster is doing in school;

· How well informed each spouse is of scholastic and extracurricular activities;

· Whether each party is involved in the minor's school or extracurricular activities;

· The ability of each side to provide a routine for the child;

· Whether each parent is morally fit;

· The physical and mental health of the parties;

· The preference of the minor;

· Whether there has been any domestic violence or other abuse or neglect;

· Whether either side has falsely accused the other of abuse;

· The responsibilities of each spouse toward the son or daughter before the petition for divorce was filed;

· Whether either side has exposed the youth to alcohol or drug abuse;

· Whether each party has shielded the son or daughter from the divorce litigation;

· The ability of each parent to meet the child's current and future developmental needs; and

· Anything else that the court believes is relevant.

To review the full text of the new legislation, see section 61.13(3) of the Florida Statutes.

Courts may give each factor different weight based on the circumstances of a particular case. If you have questions concerning how the factors might apply to your case, be sure to consult an attorney experienced in family law.

Richard J. Mockler and Adam B. Cordover are family law attorneys at Richard J. Mockler, P.A., located in Tampa, Florida. For a free consultation or more information on time-sharing or other family law matters, please visit our website at http://www.FamilyLawRights.com

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