At Lance P. Richard, P.A., we provide personalized, experienced service to help clients handle emotionally charged issues related to child custody and visitation, now known under Florida law as Time-Sharing.

Florida Statute 61.13 outlines the factors that a Court will consider when determining appropriate time-sharing between parents.

Florida law now requires that parents enter into a Parenting Plan which designates the rights and responsibilities of each parent and specifically designates when and how each parent will spend time with their child or children.

In determining appropriate time-sharing, courts are concerned primarily with the best interests of the child and will consider some of the following factors set forth in Florida Statute 61.13:

• The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent 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.
• The anticipated division of parental responsibilities after the litigation, including the extent to which parental responsibilities will be delegated to third parties.
• The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent 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 the child has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment and the desirability of maintaining continuity.
• The geographic viability of the parenting plan, with special attention paid to the needs of school-age children and the amount of time to be spent traveling to effectuate the parenting plan.
• The moral fitness of the parents.
• The home, school, and community record of the child.
• The reasonable preference of the child, if the court deems the child to be of sufficient intelligence, understanding, and experience to express a preference.

This can be a very complicated area of family law. If you would like to learn more, we would be happy to discuss issues related to time-sharing and parenting plans during an initial confidential consultation. To talk to Lance P. Richard call 772-223-9600 or contact our office online today.

Lance P. Richard, P.A. handles Child Custody, Visitation, Time-Sharing and Parenting Plans in Martin County, Florida; St. Lucie County, Florida; Palm Beach County, Florida; Indian River County, Florida; Okeechobee County Florida, and the following cities: Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Hobe Sound, Jupiter, West Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Lake Worth, Wellington, Boynton Beach, Port. St. Lucie, Sewall's Point, Ft. Pierce, Vero Beach, and Okeechobee.