Category Archives: Time sharing
How can you stop false reports of child abuse to DCF?
The Department of Children & Families (DCF) is required to receive and investigate allegations of child abuse as part of its mandate to protect children from abuse and neglect. DCF relies on the public to report suspected child abuse. In Florida, everyone is legally required to report suspected child abuse. It is a crime… Read More »
Evidence in Divorce & Fathers’ Rights
Evidence in a family law case refers to the information, documents, or testimony presented to the court to support or refute claims made by the parties involved. This evidence helps the judge make decisions on issues such as timesharing and visitation, custody, alimony, child support, property division, or other family law matters. Common types… Read More »
DCF Dismissal if Criminal Case Is Dropped?
No, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) is not required to dismiss your dependency case just because the associated criminal case is dismissed. DCF operates independently from the criminal justice system. It has different goals, is subject to different laws with different legal requirements, and applies a different standard of proof. While criminal… Read More »
New Equal Timesharing for Fathers
Fathers seeking child custody, timesharing, and visitation should be aware of a blockbuster change in Florida law that occurred this legislative session. CS/HB 13601, effective as of 7/1/2023, makes several significant changes to the law on paternity and father’s rights: Equal Timesharing Presumption: Previously, courts were required to consider all the statutory parenting factors… Read More »
Parents Disagree on Vaccinating Kids?
How do parents in Florida resolve disagreement about vaccinating their children, including disagreement over the COVID vaccination? Courts are required to grant parents “shared parental responsibility” unless it would be detrimental to their child.[1] “Shared parental responsibility” means major decisions affecting the child are to be made after the parents confer and reach an… Read More »
Helping Kids Cope with COVID-19 Stress
Corona virus precautions have required many changes in daily routines and schedules. Changes like this can stress children. The Florida State University Center for Prevention and Early Intervention Policy put together fantastic guides to help you identify when children are stressed; the cause of stress; how to talk about stress with your children; and… Read More »
Where to Find Florida DCF Records
DCF child abuse records are confidential and exempt from public records requests, except as provided by statute. Florida Statute §39.202, allows the person having legal custody of the child (or the young adult who was in DCF’s custody) to obtain DCF records. Florida Statute §39.202(7)(a) generally requires DCF to keep records of its cases… Read More »
Florida Court Orders New Parenting Plan
Former husband John Duke appealed the trial court’s final judgment dissolving his marriage to his wife, Heather. The Orlando couple were married for 25 years before she petitioned for dissolution of marriage. At the time, they had one minor child. Following a non-jury trial, the trial judge ordered John to pay permanent periodic alimony,… Read More »
Arranging a Divorce Time-Sharing Plan
Divorce is very tough on children. They are forced to adapt to a new schedule of being shuttled back and forth and usually end up living in two different homes, or not seeing one parent a majority of the time. With all of this change, it’s important for your child’s life to have as much… Read More »
Tips for Maintaining Time-Sharing
In the state of Florida, child custody and visitation are lumped under the category of “time sharing,” which essentially boils down to both parents writing out a detailed plan for the time that a child spends with each parent. Depending on whether both parents were able to work together to formulate the plan, or… Read More »
