Indian River County Custody and Visitation Attorneys Protect the Interests of Florida Families

Florida Family Law Firm Experienced in Custody and Visitation Issues

Florida parents are encouraged to work together and submit a parenting plan that they agree upon to the court. The plan must include a time sharing schedule that will define the time the child spends with each parent. If parents cannot reach an agreement, the court will create a parenting plan for them.

Parental Responsibility in Florida

There are two types of custody, called parental responsibility in Florida, including:

• Shared parental responsibility, in which both parents have complete parental rights and responsibilities, and agree to work together to jointly make major decisions regarding their child. The parents’ time with the child is divided so that each will have frequent, ongoing, and regular contact, although not necessarily equal contact.
• Sole parental responsibility, in which only one parent will make decisions regarding the child. In this arrangement, the child will live with the parent with sole parental responsibility for a majority of the time, while the other parent will maintain time sharing rights.

Relocation and Child Custody

In Florida, a parent cannot relocate with a child unless a written agreement is filed with the court that:

• Expresses consent to the relocation
• Explains the time sharing schedule that the non-relocating parent will have
• Describes transportation arrangements with regard to access or time sharing

Modification of Child Custody

A child custody order in Florida will not be modified unless a parent or third party can show a substantial and material change in circumstances that makes a modification necessary to serve the best interests of the child.

A skilled Indian River County custody and visitation attorney like Luisa McBride can help guide you toward decisions that will serve the best interests of your family. For compassionate legal representation, contact our firm online or call 772-236-0234 to set up your free initial consultation today.