The custody process in Florida involves making decisions on both legal and physical custody. Many parents are concerned with physical custody, which is who the child lives with and when, but legal custody is also an important consideration. Legal custody is the power...
Child Custody
Determining the best interests of the child in child custody
When parents are embroiled in a child custody dispute in Florida family law courts, they may have different goals in mind for how the situation should be resolved. But, family law judges in Florida have only one goal in mind in these legal circumstances: achieving a...
Drafting a parenting plan in Florida
Florida parents may draft a parenting plan to specify how they want to handle the custody of their children. Under, Fla. Stat. 61.13, a parenting plan must include the following information: Thorough description of how parents will share parental responsibilities....
Establishing paternity in Florida
One important aspect of child custody is establishing paternity, which is the legal process of determining who a child’s biological father is. In Florida, there are several ways paternity can be established. These include marriage, voluntary acknowledgment and a court...
What if you want to move away with your child?
Many newly divorced people wish to move away. A change of scenery could do a lot to help a person move on after a divorce and begin a new, independent life. This kind of move is not so easy for a divorced parent who is subject to a child custody order, particularly in...
What stops the other parent from leaving Florida with my child?
Child custody and parenting time are common issues in many Florida divorces regardless of the financial situation. In some cases, however, a parent might have significant means and the ability to leave the state or country at any time. In complicated cases, one parent...
Child custody and the holidays
A scheduling or visitation order or an agreed-upon parenting plan may not be able to withstand the stress, activities and evolving schedules associated with the holidays. Planning ahead can help prevent legal problems and reduce stress. Children first Courts make...
Child custody law protects children from abuse across state lines
Whether prompted by affordability, the desire to remain close to extended family and friends, or a work-related development, the legal implications for those who reside in separate states and share custody of a child affect everyone. According to U.S. News & World...
How unwed fathers can establish paternity
Fathers in Florida play an important role in their children’s lives. This is true whether they are married or not, but for legal purposes, fathers have different rights depending on if they are married or not. Florida law presumes that fathers who are married are the...
Finding the best interests of the child during custody issues
Parents in Florida face quite a bit of uncertainty when they are involved in child custody disputes. During these issues, there are oftentimes competing opinions and interests that the family court must weigh – coming from two parents who are usually equal in their...