Time Sharing (Custody/Visitation)
If you are getting divorced in Lee County and timesharing is disputed, contact the Thompson Law Group, P.A., for experienced legal representation. Attorney William J. Thompson has been helping clients throughout southwest Florida for more than a decade and will dedicate himself to protecting and defending both yours and your children's rights. The firm handles all timesharing matters, including timesharing issues in the following areas:
- Contested divorce
- Uncontested divorce
- Paternity
- Parenting plan modifications
- Home relocation disputes (move-away disputes with minor children)
To learn more about child custody matters, contact a Fort Myers and Bonita Springs visitation lawyer to schedule an initial consultation.
Florida Timesharing and Shared Parental Responsibility Laws
In the state of Florida, the concept of child custody has been dramatically altered in recent years. To prevent unnecessary fights over child custody labels, Florida no longer uses custodial designations such as sole custody or joint custody. Instead, a mother and father may be awarded either shared parental responsibility, sole parental responsibility, or parental responsibility may be awarded to a mother and father over certain aspects of the child's upbringing, such as religious preference, churches the children will attend, doctors, dentists, schools, sports, and extracurricular activities. Typically once parental responsibility is determined, an appropriate timesharing schedule is ordered.
The state of Florida favors the right of a child to spend ample time with each parent after a divorce, unless a court determines that it would not be in the best interests of the child. Florida Statute 61.13 states:
It is the public policy of this state that each minor child has frequent and continuing contact with both parents after the parents separate or the marriage of the parties is dissolved and to encourage parents to share the rights and responsibilities, and joys, of childrearing. There is no presumption for or against the father or mother of the child or for or against any specific time-sharing schedule when creating or modifying the parenting plan of the child.
Of course, this preference is not absolute. In cases where domestic violence, chemical dependency or other issues are present that may affect the parental fitness of a parent, the best interests of the child are always weighted as the determinative factor in a court's determination of timesharing. Parents may reach an agreement as to an appropriate parenting plan that provides for a specific timesharing plan. A court will issue an order which incorporates the parties' agreement as long as it is in the best interests of the child.
We Can Help
Our Lee County child custody attorneys can advise you of your rights and help you work toward developing a parenting plan that will be beneficial to both you and your children, while at the same time protecting your rights as a parent. If your case cannot be resolved by mutual agreement, attorney William J. Thompson will be prepared to argue passionately to protect your parental responsibility and timesharing rights at trial.
Working One-on-One With a Fort Myers Child Custody Attorney
At our firm, we are dedicated to providing each client with the personal service and support they require. William J. Thompson will take time to listen, understand the dynamics of your situation, and actively pursue your objectives.
Contact a Bonita Springs Visitation Lawyer
To speak with a Bonita Springs custody lawyer, contact the Thompson Law Group, P.A., today. To schedule a consultation with attorney William J. Thompson, call 239-494-8036, or contact us by e-mail.
