Category Archives: Child Custody
When Parenting Plans Include Future Time-Sharing Changes
Disputes concerning custody and parenting plans commonly arise in the Florida courts. In most cases, the parents try to avoid future conflict by coming up with parenting plans that account for any potential changes in the child’s needs over time. This involves having a phased milestone-based plan on how to share time with the… Read More »
Relocation and Child Custody Disputes in Florida
The complexity involved in child custody cases can escalate further when one parent attempts to move out of state with a minor child. A move might have a considerable impact on the existing parenting plan and the connection between the child and the other parent. For this reason, Florida courts are extremely cautious when… Read More »
Flexibility in Parenting Plans
Parenting plans are among the most essential elements in family law disputes concerning the welfare of a minor child. The parenting plan provides details about how both parents would divide time and duties after a divorce. Typically, any modification of the parenting plan involves proving a material change of circumstances and evidence that the… Read More »
Understanding Best Interest Findings in a Contested Custody Case
Contested cases of child custody and time-sharing are some of the most complex and contentious cases in Florida family law. When trial courts rule in cases involving parental responsibility and parenting plans, Florida Statutes § 61.13(3) call for extensive evaluation of numerous “best interest” factors, and under the current statute, written findings to support… Read More »
Contested Custody and Relocation Under Florida Law
The most difficult type of contested custody cases involves parental relocation with the child. When a parent seeks to relocate a child a great distance from the other parent, the trial court has to weigh their competing claims and determine whether the relocation should proceed. In weighing this evidence, the trial court must make… Read More »
Parental Relocation in Florida: What Tampa Parents Need to Know Before Moving With a Child
Relocation cases are some of the most emotionally charged disputes in Florida family law. When a parent wants to move 50 miles or more from their current residence, they cannot simply pack up and go. Florida law requires a detailed, evidence-based process, and courts scrutinize relocation requests closely, particularly in contested cases. A landmark… Read More »
Wade v. Hirschman: Reining in Custody Modifications in Florida
Custody disputes after divorce can get especially tense when one parent wants to change who the primary residential parent is. In Florida, the courts generally favor keeping things stable. The idea is that once a custody arrangement is in place, it shouldn’t be changed unless there’s a strong reason to do so. That principle… Read More »
Contested Custody & Domestic Violence: How Florida Courts Protect Children in High-Conflict Cases
When custody gets messy in Florida, especially in places like Tampa, allegations of domestic violence tend to carry a lot of weight. Judges don’t take these things lightly. Even just one reported incident, whether it leads to charges or not, can seriously shift how time with the child is divided. A lot of parents… Read More »
When Will the Courts Order a Drug Test During a Florida Custody Case?
In Florida custody cases, the courts prioritize the best interests of the children. When one parent accuses another parent of unfitness, the courts will address the matter in a variety of ways. It is well within the court’s power to order that one parent be drug tested to determine if they’re fit to parent… Read More »
Can Courts Award Custody to Someone Who Isn’t a Parent?
It may sound strange, but the Florida courts have dealt with this question before. In one case, Quiceno v. Bedier, 387 So. 3d 365 (Fla. 3d DCA 2023), the Florida trial court awarded timesharing to a non-parent over the objections of a biological parent. The case was taken up on appeal. In this article,… Read More »