So you want custody of your child.
First, let me tell you that I am a family law attorney and I represent individuals in custody court battles across the State of Florida. However, the purpose of this blog is not to give you legal advice, but to simply provide you with a general overview of child custody laws in Florida that my help you navigate through their complexity.
Please keep in mind that the reason why I use the term “custody” in this blog is because many people today are unfamiliar with the term “time-sharing,” which is the more appropriate term to use in this day and age.
So you feel that you make a better parent than your spouse or partner and that YOU should be awarded majority timesharing with your minor child. But how do courts decide which parent should be the “majority custodian” or the “primary residential parent”? In other words, how does the judge decide which parent should be awarded majority time-sharing?
Family law judges make their decisions for a child based on “the best interest of the child.” But how do judges decide what’s in the best interest of the child? What factors do judges look at?
In determining the best interest of the child, judges look at the following factors as outlined by statute in Florida:
1. 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.
2. The anticipated division of parental responsibility after the litigation, including the extent to which parental responsibilities will be delegated to third parties.
3. 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.
4. The length of time the child has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment and the desirability of maintaining continuity.
5. 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 travelling to effectuate the parenting plan. This factor does not create a presumption for or against relocation of either parent with the child.
6. The moral fitness of the parents.
7. The mental and physical health of the parents.
8. The home, school, and community record of the child.
9.. The reasonable preference of the child, if the court deems the child to be informed of the circumstances of the minor child, including, but not limited to, the child’s friends, teachers, medical care providers, daily activities, and favorite things.
10. The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to provide a consistent routine for the child, such as discipline, and daily schedules for homework, meals, and bedtime.
11. The demonstrated capacity of each parent to communicate with and keep the other parent informed of issues and activities regarding the minor child, and the willingness of each parent to adopt a unified front on all major issues when dealing with the child.
12. Evidence of domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, child abandonment, or child neglect, regardless of whether a prior or pending action relating to those issues has been brought. If the court accepts evidence of prior or pending actions regarding domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, child abandonment, or child neglect, the court must specifically acknowledge in writing that such evidence was considered when evaluating the best interests of the child.
13. Evidence that either parent has knowingly provided false information to the court regarding any prior or pending action regarding domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, child abandonment, or child neglect.
14. The particular parenting tasks customarily performed by each parent and the division of parental responsibilities before the institution of litigation and during the pending litigation, including the extent to which parenting responsibilities were undertaken by third parties.
15. The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to participate and be involved in the child’s school and extracurricular activities.
16. The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to maintain an environment for the child which is free from substance abuse.
17. The capacity and disposition of each parent to protect the child from the ongoing litigation as demonstrated by not discussing the litigation with the child, not sharing documents or electronic media related to the litigation with the child, and refraining from disparaging comments about the other parent to the child.
18. The developmental stages and needs of the child and the demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to meet the child’s developmental needs.
19. Any other factor that is relevant to the determination of a specific parenting plan, including the time-sharing schedule.