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Forms

Parenting Plans ~ formerly Child Custody

Local: 727-531-8737
Toll Free: 877-531-8737

The concept of child custody was abolished in Florida in October of 2008. The concepts of Custody, Primary Residential Care and Secondary Residential Care have been replaced with the concept of Parenting Plans and Time-Sharing.

The Parenting Plan is a document that governs the way the parties relate to one another about the decisions made regarding children, and includes a time-sharing schedule that dictates when the children will be spending time with each parent, including overnights, weekends and holidays and summer breaks. Also included is how often and the method of technologies that the parents will use to communicate with the children. If a Parenting Plan can be developed and agreed to by the parents then it only needs the approval of the Court to become binding. However, if the parents cannot agree, the schedule will be established by the Court’s determination.

Parenting Plans are some of the most challenging and difficult aspects of a divorce case. The parents must work through or litigate who the children will live with most of the time; and it can be a terrifying, frustrating and demanding process.

Shared Parental Responsibility is the legal presumption in Florida. The Court feels that both parents should be actively involved in their children's lives, education, religious upbringing, health and welfare. The Court will grant Shared Parental Responsibility unless one parent is truly unfit. Otherwise, both parents will work together jointly raising their children.

The Best Interest of the Minor Child is the bottom line standard that the Courts consider in making parenting plan determinations. The Judge has wide leeway in making a decision as to what is in the BEST INTEREST OF THE MINOR CHILDREN. Many parents get caught up in what "they want and need," and forget that the Court only is concerned with what is in the Best Interest of their children.

I have endured such a custody fight. I understand what you are going through, what you are feeling, and what you want for you and your children. I have had the opportunity to see the way judges make these decisions and that experience gives me the ability to emphasis the important facts, evidence and testimony to give you the best possible chance to prevail in such a legal battle.

PLEASE NOTE: the hiring of an attorney is an important decision which should not be based on advertisements alone, ask us to send you a written statement of our qualifications and experience. Also, this web site is designed for general information only, and the information contained herein may not apply to your circumstances and is based upon Florida law only. Finally, please be aware that the presentation of the information at this web site does not and should not be construed to be formal legal advice and it does not create or form an attorney/client relationship. No attorney client relationship is created until you have signed an Authorization for Legal Services.