Types of Child Custody in Florida
Talk to Our Jacksonville Custody Lawyer Today
In the state of Florida, and indeed all around the country,
child custody will first be determined based upon what is in the best interests of the
child. While children might not have a direct say in and out of
family law and
divorce court, they can heavily influence how a judge rules based on their behavior
and special needs. Each parent also can tip the scales either way depending
on their own lifestyles, financial stability, criminal history, and more.
Due to the complexities that can arise in any child custody case, and all
of the varying factors that must be assessed when figuring out how to
make a child most comfortable, there is more than just one type of child
custody. If you are going through a divorce, you should allow our Jacksonville
child custody attorneys at
Hutchinson Law examine your case. With our experience and guidance, we can point you
in the right direction that will bring you to an amicable solution that
does not forget your rights as a parent.
Tell us about your situation by filling out an
online case evaluation form today.
Making Sense of Child Custody Agreements
It is understandable for both parents to want to be able to spend plenty
of time with their children and make major life decisions for them. After
a divorce, this can become a precarious process that leads to heated arguments.
Child custody agreements are meant to resolve disagreements before they
ever happen by defining who does what through a court order ahead of time.
There are four aspects or forms of child custody that could come up in
your divorce:
-
Physical custody: If you are awarded physical custody, your child may live with you on your
property. It also means you have earned
visitation rights on holidays or special events.
-
Legal custody: Decisions regarding a child's education, religion, health care, and
other important factors in their life and upbringing can be decided by
a parent who has won legal custody of the child.
-
Sole custody: Sometimes called primary custody, sole custody permits one parent and just
that one parent custody of the child. This is usually reserved for cases
involving an abusive or otherwise dangerous parent.
-
Joint custody: Both parents are given custody, usually in shares as equal as can be. Joint
custody encourages parents to work together, strengthening their post-divorce
relationship and also their relationships with their children.
Physical and legal custody will be combined with either sole or joint custody
in an agreement. For example, if you are granted sole physical custody
but joint legal custody, your child will only live with you but both you
and your ex-spouse have a say in how they are raised. In another opposite
example, the court can decide joint physical custody but sole legal custody,
allowing the child to spend half their time living with you and the other
half with your ex, but only one of you gets to make the final call on
important decisions.
Modifying Child Custody Agreements
As with
child support and
alimony payments, child custody agreements are not exactly permanent. Situations can change
for you, your child, or your ex-spouse that require modifications to be made.
Reasons you might have to modify child custody include:
- Chronic illness or debilitating injury
- Unexpected job loss
- Mandatory relocation for employment
- Sudden financial hardship or boon
This will need to be brought to the attention of the court in most circumstances,
and they have to be significant. You cannot simply state that you no longer
want to live with your child anymore. Usually you may make temporary changes
to visitation rules during the holidays without the intervention of the
court, so long as you and your ex are both clear on the expectations.
Secure Strong Advocacy for Your Custody Case
With decades of experience, our Jacksonville divorce attorneys are ready
to serve and represent you. By working closely with you and really getting
to know your living situation, we can determine which type of child custody
is the most fair and the most beneficial. We do not want you to feel forced
into any decision, however, so we do our best to keep in close
contact with you from start to finish. Call
(904) 638-3134 today to get started. The wellbeing and comfort of you and your child
should not be delayed any further.