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Orlando Divorce Lawyer > Orlando Family Lawyer > Orlando Child Custody & Time Sharing Lawyer

Orlando Child Custody & Time Sharing Lawyer

Decisions regarding child custody and shared parenting duties are among the most important decisions made by parents who are ending a relationship. Often, they are among the most hotly contested as well.

Florida law supports equal time sharing and shared parenting. Courts give both mothers and fathers equal rights and access to their children. It is important to remember that regardless of why parents are ending their relationship, children are often times affected the most, and their best interest must always be kept in mind.

At Anderson & Ferrin, Attorneys at Law, P.A., we understand the importance of putting children first in any custody matter. Our Orlando child custody & time sharing lawyers pay careful attention to our clients and render legal advice that protects not only their rights but their children’s rights as well.

A commitment to children and families has always been a passion for us and drives us in our everyday work. Attorney Victoria Lyn Anderson received a Certificate in Concentration in Children and Families from Barry University School of Law for her efforts and accomplishments in this area.

Help with parenting plans and timesharing in Florida

When the dissolution of marriage is affecting children, Florida law requires the spouses to develop a detailed parenting plan regarding a number of parenting and timesharing matters. At a minimum, this parenting plan must accomplish all of the following:

  • Describe in detail how the parents will share and be responsible for the daily tasks of raising the children
  • Include a detailed timesharing schedule that specifies the time the children will spend with each parent. Arrangements may include pickups, drop-offs and exchanges, holidays and vacations, and how last-minute or emergency changes to the schedule will be handled
  • Designate which parent is going to be responsible for all forms of health care for the children
  • Designate which parent is going to be responsible for school-related matters, including which parent’s address will be used to determine which school or schools the children attend
  • Designate which parent will have responsibility over extracurricular activities
  • Describe in detail the methods and technologies the parents will use to communicate with the children.

Developing a parenting plan that will be approved by the court is not easy in even the most amicable of divorces. A great level of detail is required, and even parents intent on working together can get bogged down in the details, sometimes making the divorce process more heated and disruptive. Our experienced family law advisors and counselors help parents work together to keep the talks on track toward an arrangement that is satisfactory to the parents and works well for the children.

While we encourage parents to collaborate on issues of child custody, in some situations litigation may be necessary. At these times, our Orlando child custody lawyers aggressively pursue the custody and shared parenting schedule that works for our clients and their children. We have a strong track record of producing favorable outcomes for our clients in custody matters, even when the odds seemed to be working against us.

How Florida courts decide questions of child custody timesharing

The best interests of the children are the primary consideration for the court when deciding child custody. To make this decision, Florida law requires the judge to consider 20 different factors which can affect the welfare and interests of the children under each family’s particular circumstances. Some of these factors include:

  • How well each parent will foster an ongoing relationship between the children and the other parent, including honoring the time-sharing schedule and being open to changes as needed
  • The desirability of keeping the children in the same environment for their stability
  • The moral fitness of the parents
  • The reasonable preference of the children if they are of sufficient development to express a preference
  • How well the parents demonstrate their knowledge of the children’s friends, teachers, doctors, and favorite things and activities
  • A parent’s ability to stick to a consistent daily, evening and bedtime routine for the children
  • The ability of the parents to deal with the children’s needs given their current developmental stages and needs
  • Any history of substance abuse, domestic violence, child abuse or child neglect

Orlando family court judges make their decisions based on testimony and other evidence provided in court. Our experienced Florida divorce lawyers will prepare and present a strong case to educate, inform and persuade the court on how these factors and others may impact the child custody decision in your divorce.

Comprehensive support in Orlando child custody cases

Custody issues can be especially complex when parents live in different states or even different countries. We have extensive experience handling interstate and international custody issues. Also, if circumstances change after your original custody orders are issued, we can help you pursue modifications to existing orders.

Contact us to schedule a free consultation. We will answer your questions and recommend the best course of action.

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