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Child Custody

Recent Posts in Child Custody Category

  • Creating a Parenting Plan in Florida

    When making child custody decisions, there is a lot to consider. There is much more to negotiate than simply where the child will live. Luckily, if you live in Florida, the state uses a highly detailed parenting plan . It covers many factors of co-parenting, leaving almost nothing out. Here are just some of the items you will find in Florida’s parenting plan. Visiting and Joint Custody Schedule ...
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  • Managing Parenting After a Long-Distance Move

    Life can take you in many unexpected directions. No matter how badly you want to stay rooted, circumstances may force you to move. This relocation complicates matters when you share custody of your children, especially when the move is long-distance. Such a move raises legitimate, important questions about parenting. How much authority will the long-distance parent retain? How will you handle ...
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  • What Should a Parenting Plan Include?

    Creating a parenting plan is a key part of your divorce process when you have minor children. When you and your spouse determine what to include in this plan, each item must support your child’s well-being and meet their needs. This is crucial for a family law judge to approve it. Child custody and visitation schedule are central to your parenting plan, but you and your spouse need to reach an ...
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  • How Custody Decisions Are Made in Florida

    When a couple has a baby, they share custody of the child while they are still together. However, if they decide to separate, the courts may need to step in to help determine how much time each parent will have with the child and where the child will live. The state of Florida usually prefers to keep children in contact with both parents whenever possible, although one parent is usually given the ...
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  • The Benefits of Establishing Paternity

    When a married couple has a child, it is assumed they are the biological parents of that child. However, the same is not the case for unmarried couples. Establishing paternity can name a child’s biological father as their legal father. It also gives the father certain rights, like visitation. However, it also gives them responsibilities, such as making child support payments. What are the benefits ...
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  • Can Domestic Violence Affect Child Custody?

    When determining child custody , courts consider a lot of factors, including any instances of domestic violence. Acting in the best interest of the child is everyone’s number-one priority, which is why courts take instances, even allegations, of domestic violence very seriously. If the domestic violence occurred after the child custody orders were issued, a parent can file to have the orders ...
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  • Will a Joint Custody Agreement Impact Child Support Payments?

    Many people are currently raising their children in a joint custody agreement, meaning they share custody responsibilities with the other parent whom they are not in a spousal relationship with. Joint custody is one of the most used legal avenues for ensuring both proper care for the child and adequate time spent with both parents. In joint custody, both parents share all responsibilities and time ...
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  • Frequently Asked Questions about Child Custody

    Child custody is often one of the most contentious issues spouses fight over during their divorce. Of course, child custody matters can arise outside of the context of divorce and be just as divisive. What this says is that parents are often very unwilling to relinquish custody of their children and often seek as much of it as possible. Because child custody is such a hot topic, a lot of questions ...
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  • The Best Co-Parenting Apps for Divorced Parents

    Technology has made co-parenting easier than ever thanks to new co-parenting applications. These apps help separated or divorced parents plan, stay organized, and share information about their children as they navigate co-parenting. This increases effective communication and encourages collaboration among both parents, minimizing any opportunities for conflict. Below are four of the most ...
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  • What Should Be Included in a Parenting Plan?

    Per Florida law, a parenting plan is required for any family law case that involves timesharing of a minor child. Therefore, even if you and your co-parent agree on all matters regarding custody and visitation, you will still need to establish a court-approved parenting plan. So, how do you know what should be included in this document? Today, we will review what a parenting plan is and what ...
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  • How to Keep Child Custody Exchanges Civil

    It is not uncommon for even the most amicable divorces to end with lingering feelings of resentment. This makes child custody exchanges difficult, especially on the children. While custody exchanges are necessary, they can often become contentious when parents refuse to get along or harbor feelings like bitterness. Today, we go over how to keep your child custody exchanges civil. Ensure you are ...
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  • Co-Parenting Tips for the Summer Season

    Whether you are new to co-parenting or have been a co-parent for years, the truth remains: sometimes it is difficult to co-parent over the summer season. Due to changes in schedules, vacation time, and summer camps, your summer co-parenting plan may have to change, which could cause some discomfort. Today, we will review some co-parenting tips so you can take on the summer season with ease. Tips ...
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  • Working with Your Ex to Create Consistent Household Rules for the Kids

    Raising children after a divorce can be a major challenge. To help them feel more secure, you and your former spouse should collaborate to develop consistent rules and routines in each household. Aiming for consistency does not mean you and your co-parent need to have identical parenting styles. However, you should work toward creating as much consistency as is reasonably possible. Establishing ...
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  • How Can I Modify Child Custody?

    It would be unrealistic to assume that the lives of both parents will remain the same after a divorce. Even one year later, circumstances may change, warranting a modification of your child custody . Family courts understand this, which is why Florida law allows former spouses to petition the court for a modification of their child custody order. If you are the petitioning parent, you must provide ...
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  • What You Should Know About Post-Divorce Modifications

    Life can change substantially after a divorce and the terms that were once acceptable and practical for your situation may not continue to be suitable for you or serve the best interests of your children. Family courts understand that modifications are sometimes necessary, which is why you can file a petition to modify child support, spousal support, or child custody. However, unless fraud somehow ...
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  • What Happens if My Children Refuse Visitation?

    During the divorce process, parents must work out a child custody and visitation arrangement to ensure each party can maintain a meaningful bond with the children. If you cannot agree on an arrangement together, a judge will render a decision for you, examining several factors to determine what is in their best interests. However, sometimes putting a child custody order into practice may become a ...
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  • How Can a Relocation Affect Child Custody?

    Can a parent with primary custody move a great distance from the other parent? Should a court place the child in the care of the non-custodial parent instead? How can a move affect an existing child custody agreement? When to Involve the Court The state of Florida affirms that a relocation is when a parent moves more than 50 miles away from their current residence for more than 60 days. It does ...
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  • Child Custody & How to Divide Time During the Holidays

    Children need to develop holiday traditions with each side of their family. This can be complicated when parents are no longer together and must decide how to share the holidays. There are a few ways former partners can split the holidays so everyone can be happy. Keep reading to learn more. Alternating Holidays Perhaps the most common way to divide holidays, an alternating schedule allows both ...
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  • Establishing Paternity with an Uncooperative Biological Father

    In Florida, paternity is established in one of two ways: the child is born during your marriage to the father; or the father acknowledges his paternity and it is officially instated through a court of law. What happens if you weren’t married to the father of your child at the time of birth and he refuses to go before the court? Is there a way to force the biological father to take responsibility ...
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  • 5 Ways to Make the Most Out of Visitation Time with Your Child

    After a divorce, visitation is critically important for maintaining a sense of connection with your child. Unfortunately, visitation time is often used as a tool to punish or harm one parent. This is a bad idea for many reasons, the most important of which is the negative effect it can have on the child. Even if your relationship with your child’s other parent isn’t the best, you should always ...
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  • Joint Custody and School Districts – Where Will Your Child Go to School?

    School age children are required to attend an educational institution. A child’s residential district generally dictates where the child will go to school; however, if you and your partner have recently divorced and now have joint custody, you may not be sure which school district your child belongs to. If one parent has the child most of the time, the child will likely attend school in the ...
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  • Different Enforcement Methods for Family Law Orders

    After the court issues its final judgment or decree in a divorce or other family law matter, the parties receive a document detailing the terms of the court’s directives and orders. So, how does a piece of paper make someone pay child support or give their spouse title to a house or car? What’s to stop someone from simply refusing to follow the terms of a divorce or family law order? There are a ...
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  • Divorce: Can I Move Out Without the Kids?

    Some married couples have amicable divorces. They approach their divorce realistically, and with an agreement about dividing their property and debts. They also come up with a practical child custody schedule that will serve their children’s best interests. Other couples are not as fortunate, especially if their feud is over child custody. If you are a parent who is headed toward divorce and you ...
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  • Domestic Violence & Divorce in Florida

    Few things complicate a divorce quite like domestic violence, even more so when there are children involved. As a victim of domestic violence, you deserve to get out as fast as you can, which can be a challenge if you are married to an abuser. The state of Florida condemns violent spouses with criminal charges, which has an inevitable ripple effect in all other court cases. Domestic violence ...
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  • How to Create a Parenting Plan for Divorce

    One of the most heartbreaking aspects of divorce is when children are involved, as it is inevitable there will be some conflicts or tension regarding future parenting. Divorced parents find it difficult to agree on much of anything, especially when it comes to your shared children. Tensions run high as both parents want to protect as much of their time with their child as possible--as well as an ...
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