Tampa Child Custody & Timesharing Lawyer

Perhaps one of the most challenging aspects of separating from a spouse is the knowledge that divorce will have an immediate effect on any children of the relationship. For parents who are parting ways, making a determination about child custody and timesharing can be emotional, stressful, and even heart-wrenching. At the law offices of de Beaubien, Simmons, Knight, Mantzaris & Neal, LLP, our Tampa child custody & timesharing lawyers understand how delicate family law issues involving children are, and approach your case with the sensitivity it deserves.

Child Custody and Timesharing Laws in Florida

When parents are separating, they are required under Florida law to enter into a parenting plan that outlines each parent’s responsibilities and duties in regards to a shared child.

The parenting plan will address both legal custody–the ability to make decisions regarding the child’s life, and physical custody–the responsibility of providing physical care for the child. Parents may be awarded joint custody, where both physical and legal custody are shared, or one parent may be granted sole custody.

Parents are strongly encouraged to work together to create a parenting plan that addresses with whom a child will live, what the visitation schedule of the other parent will be, how a child will be transported between homes, how disputes regarding the child will be resolved, and more.

When a Court Makes a Determination About Parenting Time in Tampa

When parents are unable to reach an agreement about the terms of a parenting plan through mediation or/and negotiation, the case will be brought before a judge who will ultimately be responsible for issuing a parenting time judgment. If a judge is responsible for making a determination about child custody and parenting time, they must do so based on the best interests of the child. The best interests of the child are determined following the consideration of a number of factors, including:

• The willingness and ability of each parent to facilitate a loving relationship between the child and the other parent;
• The moral fitness of the parents;
• The mental and physical health of each parent;
• The preferences of the child;
• The ability of each parent to act with the child’s needs and interests in mind;
• Any history of domestic violence or abuse; and
• Other factors found in Section 61.125 of Florida Code.

Our Tampa Family Lawyers Represent You and Your Child

We know that you want the best for your child. If you and your spouse are in disagreement about what that looks like following a separation or divorce, our attorneys can help you to understand your rights, make sense of the law, and will advocate for you and your child’s best interests.

For a consultation with our Tampa child custody lawyers, please call our law office today or send us a confidential message. We have more than 50 years of experience advocating for people like you.