Defining Parental Responsibilities and Rights in Florida
When parents divorce or separate, it is difficult on everyone involved, especially on the children. Parents face anxiety about their parental rights and time with their children. Children face concerns about whether the separation was their fault, how their lives will change and if their parents will feel differently about them after the divorce. With how emotionally charged child custody and timesharing disputes can be, it is important to keep in mind how difficult this time is for the children and to focus on putting their interests first.
Call 561-392-5100 for Advice About Parenting Plans and Timesharing in South Florida
Contact our Boca Raton child custody lawyers at Brodie & Friedman, P.A. We can answer your questions, help you understand how child custody laws have changed in Florida and guide you through the legal process.
Florida child custody laws changed in 2008, essentially removing terms like child custody and visitation from the statutes. Rather than defining primary physical custody and visitation rights, new laws require parents to work out a comprehensive parenting plan which clearly defines parental responsibility and time-sharing arrangements. Additionally, Florida laws now emphasize the importance of both parents playing an active role in the lives of their children. Therefore, absent abuse, neglect or other proof that a parent is unfit, Florida courts favor parenting plans that provide for significant involvement by both parents.
In order to be approved by the court, parenting plans must thoroughly address:
- How parents will share in the daily upbringing of the children
- How days, weekends, holidays and vacations will be shared by parents, including day-to-day schedule arrangements
- Which parent will be responsible for providing health care coverage
- How parents will share responsibility with regard to medical concerns, education concerns, day-to-day activities and other matters
- How parents will communicate with each other and with the child
- Which parent's address shall be used for school registration purposes
Our attorneys can help you negotiate a thorough parenting plan that focuses on the best interests of your children as well as your goals. If a fair parenting plan cannot be achieved, we can guide you through mediation or represent your interests at trial.
Contact Our South Florida Timesharing (Parenting Plan) Attorneys
Throughout the legal process, our lawyers are committed to protecting what matters most for our clients. To learn more about our approach to client service on Florida parenting plan issues, contact Brodie & Friedman, P.A., in Boca Raton.
