Practice Area: Family Law/Child Custody
Child Custody Lawyers
in Jacksonville, FL
Sharing child custody and support is complicated. We’ll carry the burden.
Florida courts no longer favor the mother in child custody determinations, and have, in recent years, been in support of relatively equal time-sharing between parents. This is important because the child support determination is based in part on the amount of parenting time or overnight stays with each parent.
It’s important to know the differences in child custody.
Sole custody -
Gives one parent sole legal right to make decisions about the child’s upbringing, schooling, medical care, religion - every decision to be made for the child is made by one person. Sole custody does not negate the duty that parent had to keep the non-custodial parent informed of all decisions regarding the child.
Joint custody, or shared custody,
Is given to two parents who can communicate and work together, making decisions together for their children. The courts will often name one parent the primary joint custodian to make a final decision if an agreement can’t be reached. The courts intention in this type of custody is for children to spend equal time with each parent. It’s important to note that there may still be some sort of child support that must be paid despite joint custody status. Unless both parents make exactly the same amount of income and pay the exact same amount in expenses on behalf of the child, one parent will inevitably owe the other.
Split custody
Is for parents living in different states. One parent may be given custody during the school year while the other parent gets the child during breaks. Split custody can also refer to splitting siblings. Some live full time with one parent, while others live full time with the other. That type of split custody is rare, however. The courts generally prefer to keep siblings together for support and mutual comfort. Splitting siblings is more common if siblings don’t get along, or if one parent was a step parent.
Net monthly income of each parent
The number of children who are the subject of the pending action
The amount of daycare paid by each parent
The monthly cost of medical, dental and vision insurance paid by each parent and co-pays
Additional support payments made to other children
