Child Custody and Time-Sharing

You may be worried about the amount of time you’ll be able to spend with your child after your marriage has concluded. Let our experienced family law trial attorneys fight for your right to provide the best upbringing for your child.

“The Best Interest of the Child”

In Florida, the law governing parental timesharing uses the term “best interest” 14 times. Your family court judge will enforce a parenting plan that best serves your child’s interests. In court, you should be prepared to have an experienced trial attorney put forth a strong case that you deserve time with your child, proving in court:

• Your capacity to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing parent-child relationship, to honor the time-sharing schedule, and to be reasonable when changes are required.
• Your capacity and disposition to determine, consider, and act upon the needs of the child as opposed to the needs or desires of the parent.
• The length of time your child has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment and the need to maintain continuity.
• Your moral fitness as a parent.
• Your mental and physical health.
• Your child’s reasonable preference.
• Your knowledge, capacity, and disposition to be informed of the circumstances of your child, including your child’s friends, teachers, medical care providers, daily activities, and favorite things.
• Your capacity and disposition to provide a consistent routine for your child, such as discipline, and daily schedules for homework, meals, and bedtime.
• Your capacity to communicate with and keep the other parent informed of issues and activities regarding your child, and your willingness to maintain a unified front on all major issues when dealing with the child.
• Evidence of the other parent’s domestic violence, child abuse, abandonment, or neglect.
• Your capacity and disposition to participate and be involved in your child’s school and extracurricular activities.
• Your capacity and disposition to maintain an environment for the child which is free from substance abuse.
• Your capacity and disposition to protect your child from the courtroom aspects of your case, by not discussing it with your child, not sharing documents or electronic media related to the litigation, and refraining from disparaging comments about the other parent.
• The developmental stages and needs of the child and the Your capacity and disposition to meet your child’s developmental needs.

A skilled trial attorney can portray you in the best light to your family court judge. Whether you expect a courtroom battle, or wish to secure the best possible time-sharing agreement, you should consult with our experience trial attorneys to determine the best plan of attack for your time-sharing desires. Call our Broward County offices at (954) 329-2222 to schedule a consultation with lawyers who can handle this rough stuff for you.