As child custody and visitation lawyers in Orlando/Central Florida, we know that child custody is one of the most challenging and emotionally-charged legal issues that people face in their divorce. If you are involved in a divorce or a custody dispute with unwed parents, you need the help and experience of a qualified Florida legal team. Our family law firm has helped parents make the best decisions for their children and get the outcomes they deserve.
The court expects parents to protect their children from the emotional trauma associated with divorce. A child’s life is turned upside down when his or her parents separate. The goal of a court’s determination of custody and visitation is to provide a living arrangement that is in the best interests of a child’s welfare, consistent with the twenty factors found in Florida Statues 61.13.
Most parents agree that they want to provide what is best for their children, but frequently parents disagree as to the best way to accomplish this goal. In legal terms, child custody simply means that you share time with your child with the other parent and that you are equally responsible for that child’s health and well-being.
Child custody should be based on your child’s best interests, and not the parent’s emotional or financial concerns. In Florida, the parent with the most overnights usually receives child support. Even though it may be in the best interests of the child to live more with one parent, the other parent may seek more time, just to avoid or minimize child support payments. Gone are the designations of “primary custody”, “sole custody and rotating custody, which are all, replaced by the term “parenting plan” and “shared parental responsibility.”
A parenting plan is now required in every case, and which must describe in detail how parents will share responsibility for the daily tasks involved in raising a child, designating time sharing, which parent shall be responsible on the issues of health, education and activities for the child, and the method by which the parents will communicate.
For more information about child custody and visitation, contact the law office of Contact the Law Firm of Kenneth D. Morse. Our firm represents people throughout Central Florida including Orlando, Windermere, Kissimmee, Celebration, Sanford, Lake Mary, Daytona Beach, Tavares, Clearwater, and Melbourne.
