CHILD CUSTODY & TIME-SHARING

MEDIATION

Florida Child Custody Laws:

Florida child custody laws have changed significantly in the past 3 years and many parents should be aware of these changes to be better prepared to handle their parental responsibility. Parenting plans now govern the majority of all child custody issues. Neither parent is “awarded custody” which has been replaced by “time-sharing”. The responsibility for raising a child in Florida ends on the child’s 18th birthday or when the child graduates from high school by age 19.

Parenting Plans and Parental Responsibility

A parenting plan is a documents to establish parental responsibility for the child. It establishes the roles of each parent when it comes to making decisions in regards to child education, health care and physical, social and emotional well-being. It also must include a time-sharing agreement for the parents. The parenting plan can be developed by and must be agreed to by both parents.

Related Florida Statutes:
F.S.A § 61.13(2)(b)
F.S.A § 61.046(13)

Sole Parental Responsibility and Shared Parental Responsibility

Sole parental responsibility (sole custody) is when one parent makes decisions regarding the child’s welfare without the other parent’s input. This is typically used in a case where shared responsibility is harmful to the child (especially in situations of abuse). This may also impact time-sharing (if there will be any at all). Shared parental responsibility is when both parents have full parental rights and responsibilities regarding their child. All decisions will be made jointly as the parents communicate in regards to their child’s welfare.

Related Florida Statutes:
F.S.A. § 61.046(17)
F.S.A. § 61.13(2)(c)(2)
F.S.A. § 61.046(16)
F.S.A. § 61.13(2)(c)(2)

Time-Sharing in Florida

A time-sharing agreement will establish a time-sharing schedule for each parent and child. A time-sharing schedule describes the methods and means in which each parent will communicate with their child via telephone, email, etc. One parent will have physical custody of the child while the other parent is awarded generous visitation. Florida family courts prefer a shared custody agreement in which both parents have liberal time with their child.

Related Florida Statutes:
* F.S.A § 61.046(22)

Relocation and Child Custody in Florida

In court matters a Florida court will agree to one parent relocating with a child if both parents sign a written agreement of consent to relocation, detailed explanation of the time-sharing agreement for the non-relocated parent and other persons entitled to time-sharing and description of the transportation arrangements. In court matters the relocating parent would serve a petition to the other parent describing the address, telephone number, and description of the new residence, the date of the move and reasons for the move.

Modification of Child Custody in Florida

Modification of a child custody order in Florida will not occur unless a parent or a third party can show a substantial, material, or unanticipated change in circumstances. The modification must serve the child’s best interests.

Florida Child Custody Revocation

In certain cases temporary custody may be obtained by a parent or extended family member in the case of a divorce. Temporary custody may be revoked by drafting a petition to parent the child. Speak to your family mediator regarding this issue.

Florida Child Custody Forms

Your Florida Family Mediator will provide all necessary Florida Child Custody Forms for parenting plans, parental responsibilities, time-sharing agreements and other child custody matters. As of 2017, Matthew Brickman now offers family mediation services in the Greater Fort Lauderdale and Greater Miami area with no additional travel costs.

Child Custody Mediation

Our family mediators know how challenging family conflict can be involving children and how their safety and well-being can have a tremendous affect on their lives. Child custody mediation is more advantageous than traditional litigation since it eliminates the costs, stress and embarrassment of dealing with these matters in a traditional courtroom setting. We keep both parties focused on a common goal to create a family plan that protects every member of the family.

 

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Matthew Brickman is nothing short of a genius. He actually was able to do something that not alot of people can do, and that is to get me and my ex-wife to agree to terms that is mutually beneficial to our son. I do like to joke, ALOT, but all joking aside, this gentleman, Matthew Brickman, is in my opinion the best mediator in the business, and I have had the pleasure ( or dis-pleasure) of working with a few of them. His fee is more than resonable, and his results are respected by more than one judge. He gets a definite A+ in my book.
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ABOUT

MATTHEW BRICKMAN

Matthew Brickman is a Florida Supreme Court certified family and appellate mediator who has worked in the 15th and 19th Judicial Circuit Courts since 2009 and 2006 respectively.

He was also a county civil and dependency mediator who mediated hundreds of small claims, civil and child-related cases. Matthew was a certified Guardian Ad Litem with the 15th Judicial Circuit. He recently completed the Harvard Law School Negotiation Master Class which is strictly limited to 50 participants and the Harvard Business School’s Negotiation Mastery program as one of the 434 high-level professionals in a student body from across the globe, all with multiple degrees and certifications from the most prestigious institutions.

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