Fort Lauderdale Child Custody Lawyer
Fighting for the Rights of Parents and Children in Broward County Divorce and Child Custody Disputes
Parents naturally have very strong feelings toward their children and always want to do what’s right and what’s best for them. In the context of a divorce, parents often have very strong opinions about where their children should live, how much time the children should spend with them and the other parent, how important decisions regarding the children’s upbringing should be made, and who should make them. The Fort Lauderdale child custody lawyers at Edward J. Jennings, P.A. in Fort Lauderdale provide strong, effective representation in the determination of parenting and timesharing in Florida divorces. Our lawyers are here for you and fight for your rights and your children in Florida child custody disputes.
A Look at Parenting and Timesharing under Florida Law
What used to be referred to as physical custody and legal custody are now called timesharing and parenting under Florida law, reinforcing the state’s commitment to ensuring ongoing and meaningful contact between a child and each parent after divorce, and that each parent has a right to provide valuable input into the decisions which go into raising a child. Even so, a Florida family law judge can still award sole custody to one parent or exclude a parent from the decisionmaking process related to the child’s upbringing.
When parents cannot agree on timesharing and parenting plans, it is up to the judge to decide what arrangement is in the child’s best interests. The court will make its determination based on a number of factors, following litigation and courtroom hearings where the attorneys for both parents will argue for a different outcome. At Edward J. Jennings, P.A., our attorneys fight for you and present a strong case for your interests in a child custody dispute. We put forward a powerful case while the judge is deciding on the best result considering the following:
- How well each parent will be able to honor the terms of the parenting plan
- The division of parenting responsibilities between the divorcing spouses
- The emotional ties connecting the children with each parent
- The ability of the parents to consider the needs of their children before their own needs
- The need of the children for stability and to stay in the same home or at the same school
- The geographical limitations of the parenting plan
- The physical and mental condition, and the moral fitness, of each parent
- The child’s preference for where to live, depending upon the child’s age and development
Help is Available in Broward County Child Custody Disputes
Court orders regarding timesharing and parenting are final, and they can only be changed by going back to court and proving a substantial change in circumstances. Make sure you are adequately represented in the court’s initial determination of custody, so that the best interests of you and your children are met now and into the future. Contact the Fort Lauderdale child custody lawyers of Edward J. Jennings, P.A. for advice and representation from compassionate, knowledgeable and dedicated Florida family law attorneys.
