Category Archives: Time sharing
Is DCF required to dismiss your dependency case if your criminal case is dismissed?
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 Presumption 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 »
What Happens When Parents Disagree About Vaccinating their Children?
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 Children Deal with Stress During COVID-19
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 Can I 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 »
Appellate Court Says Parenting Plan Lacks Specificity and Orders New 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 »
How to Arrange a Time-Sharing Schedule During a Divorce
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 on Maintaining a Time-Sharing Schedule
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 »
What is a Reasonable Time Sharing Setup
Time sharing after a divorce in Florida In the state of Florida, child custody and visitation is referred to as time-sharing. The courts believe that it is usually in the best interest of the child to have equal time-sharing schedules, and you should have a plan that shows when your child spends time with… Read More »