Martin County Child Custody Attorneys
Helping Parents Work Out Time-Sharing Issues
When you divorce or separate from your child’s other parent, you’ll need to come to an agreement on certain family law matters before your case is considered resolved. One of the most important issues to work out is child custody, which Florida law refers to as time-sharing. This requires you and your former partner to agree on a parenting plan that a judge in a local Florida court will approve. If you’re struggling with this step, it’s time to contact a Martin County family law attorney for quality legal services.
At Treasure Coast Legal, our team is well-versed in how the Florida courts handle time-sharing issues between parents of minor children. You can trust us to walk you through your case until you end up with a parenting plan that the court approves and is the best option for your family. If you’re unsure of how to work toward achieving the best results for your Florida custody or child support case, call our law office for a free consultation with a caring attorney.
What Are the Possible Custody Arrangements in Florida?
As you begin your custody case, you might be worried about how much time you’ll get with your children and how much input you’ll have on major decisions that involve them. Fortunately, trusted attorneys understand this and will work hard to help you get the custody arrangements that work best for you and your children.
Custody cases typically involve two major elements: physical custody and legal custody. In Florida, these custody types are called time-sharing and parental responsibility.
Time-sharing refers to the amount of time each parent spends with the child, including where they live. In most cases, judges prefer to let each parent spend an equal amount of time with their children. This is called joint custody and often involves the children living with each parent half the time. However, if this doesn’t work with each parent’s schedule or is not in the children’s best interests, a judge might award one parent more parenting time and give the other parent visitation rights.
Parental responsibility – or legal custody – refers to the ability to make decisions for your children. This means deciding which school they go to, which church they attend, which doctors they see, and other important choices that will affect their lives. Judges often want the parents to share parental responsibilities unless it’s not in the children’s best interests.
Whether you want to pursue sole or joint custody, you’ll need an attorney to represent you in your family law case. Contact our law firm today for a free consultation to discuss your preferred custody arrangements, child support issues, and any other family law matters on your mind.
What Is a Parenting Plan?
Parents of minor children must agree on a parenting plan that clearly defines the details of the child’s care. Some examples of what to include in a parenting plan are:
- The amount of time the children will spend with each parent
- How and when the children will be dropped off and picked up from each parent’s house
- Who the children will spend holidays and school vacations with
- How extracurricular activities and sports will be handled by the parents
- Who will pay for health insurance and any other health care expenses
- How the children will communicate with each parent, such as through a phone or tablet
You’ll be expected to determine what additional details should be included in your parenting plan based on your family’s needs. If you’re not sure what to add or can’t come to an agreement with your child’s other parent, contact our South Florida law firm for the compassionate legal representation you deserve.
What Factors Can Influence Custody Decisions?
As you prepare to go to court to handle your custody issues, it’s essential to know how decisions of this kind are made. This is especially imperative when both parties involved cannot agree on time-sharing, as this means a judge will decide for you. Before they do, they’ll consider the following factors:
- Each parent’s moral fitness
- Each parent’s ability to provide food, health care, and clothing
- Which parent can provide a stable home
- The existing relationship between each parent and the children
- How involved each parent is with the child’s education, medical needs, and everyday activities
- Any history of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence
- Each parent’s mental and physical ability to care for the children
- The child’s preference, depending on age
- Each parent’s willingness to encourage the child’s relationship with the other parent
Generally, the family law court judge is expected to make decisions based on the child’s best interests. If you have any questions about what this means for your case, call our law firm to discuss your legal needs with an experienced attorney serving clients in Martin County, St. Lucie County, Palm Beach County, Indian River County, and surrounding areas.
How Can Martin County Child Custody Attorneys Assist You?
At Treasure Coast Legal, we understand how difficult divorce can be, especially when you have young children to care for. We’re committed to answering your questions about important family law matters, including child support and custody. Whether you want to pursue full or joint custody or have questions about your visitation rights, our legal team is here to help.
Our skilled attorneys have spent years serving family law clients in Stuart, Jensen Beach, Port St Lucie, Fort Pierce, and other areas of Florida. This means we have extensive experience representing clients in court during divorce and other family law matters. If you’re curious about how we can help you make informed decisions regarding your case, call our law office at 772-248-9250 to schedule a free consultation with a compassionate attorney.