When Florida parents are going through a divorce it can be hard on everyone, especially their children. The kids may wonder what is going to happen to them and what is their future going to look like. These are legitimate questions and why having a parenting plan is so important. Florida courts take child custody issues seriously and always work to ensure they are in the best interests of the children. There are many factors they consider when making parenting plans.
Parenting plans in Florida are designed to accommodate today’s families both during the divorce and after the divorce is finalized. They address how parents will make decisions for their children and the day-to-day tasks in raising the children. They also address holiday schedules, birthdays, summer breaks, and regular schedules for how the time the children will spend with each parent.
The court makes the determination of what is in the best interest of the child. These include:
- Capacity of each parent to facilitate and continue a close parent-child relationship.
- Length of time the child has lived in a stable environment.
- Geographic viability of parenting plan.
- Moral fitness, physical and mental health of both parents.
- Reasonable preference of child if the court believes the child has the intelligence, experience, and understanding to express a preference.
- Evidence of domestic violence.
An attorney who specializes in family law can help their client understand the process of divorce and all of the intricacies involved in the child custody. They know that child custody issues can be contentious and will work to protect the best interests of the child as well as their client.