Child Custody and Support Lawyer in Jacksonville, FL

Child custody plays a crucial role in the dissolution of a marriage. It involves determining the children's care, upbringing, and well-being post-divorce.

Protecting Children's Best Interests: Expert Child Custody Lawyers in Jacksonville

Prioritizing the children's best interests during this challenging time of family transition requires addressing issues such as custody arrangements, visitation rights, and parental responsibilities. At Florida Women’s Law Group, we understand the legal complexities of child custody and support matters and the emotional toll they can take. Our dedicated child custody lawyers in Jacksonville, Florida, are here to guide you through every step, ensuring your rights and those of your children are protected.

Child Custody

Custody arrangements involve two main types: physical and legal custody. Physical custody specifies where the child lives, while legal custody is the decision-making power regarding the child's education, healthcare, and general welfare. The court can award both types to one parent or share them between both, depending on what best serves the child's interests.

Types of Physical Child Custody

There are two types of physical child custody:

Sole Physical Custody: The child lives with one parent responsible for daily care.
Joint Physical Custody: The child lives with both parents, who share responsibilities for their care.

Legal Custody of the Child

Legal custody includes two types:

Sole Legal Custody: One parent can make significant decisions about the child's healthcare, education, and religious instruction.
Joint Legal Custody: Both parents share the decision-making responsibilities, requiring cooperation and communication on significant matters affecting the child's life.

Factors Considered in Determining Custody

Courts are concerned with the child's best interests when determining the custody arrangements. The factors child custody lawyers in Jacksonville, Florida, use that can influence the decision include:

The age, health, and emotional needs of the child.
The ability to provide a loving, stable environment.
The parents’ relationship with their child.
The child's preference depends on their age and maturity.
The willingness of each parent to support the child's relationship with the other parent.
Any history of neglect or abuse.

Parental Responsibilities

Parental responsibilities include providing emotional support, means for educational success, and managing health care needs. In Florida, the courts encourage parents to share these responsibilities whenever possible, promoting cooperative parenting and minimizing conflict.
Regardless of the custody arrangement, both parents need to fulfill their parental responsibilities, including:

Providing emotional support and guidance.
Ensuring the child's educational success.
Managing healthcare and medical needs.
Supporting the child's extracurricular activities and interests.

Visitation Rights

Visitation rights, or parenting time, are crucial aspects of custody arrangements. These rights ensure that the non-custodial parent maintains a meaningful relationship with their child. Our legal team works to establish fair and balanced visitation schedules that foster positive parent-child relationships.

Modifying Custody Arrangements

A parent can modify custody arrangements if significant changes in circumstances affect the child's well-being. These changes may include changes in a parent's living situation, employment, health, or the child's needs.

Child Custody Time and Parenting Plans

Creating an effective parenting plan is essential for ensuring a stable and nurturing environment for children post-divorce. Here’s an overview of standard custody time schedules.

Alternating Weeks: The child spends alternate weeks with each parent.
2-2-3: The child is with one parent for two days, the next two with the other, and then returns for three days with the first parent, alternating weeks.
3-4-4-3: The child stays three days with one parent, spends four days with the other, four days with the first, and three days with the other parent.
Every Other Weekend: The child lives with one parent and spends every other weekend with the other.
Extended Summer or Holiday Visits: Parents may spend extended time with their children during summer vacations or major holidays.

Child Support

Child support is an essential component of post-divorce arrangements. It covers the child's financial needs, including housing, food, clothing, education, and healthcare.

Florida Women’s Law Group - Child Custody and Support

We established our law firm to help women through life-altering times. Every family is unique and requires personalized care to ensure the best outcome. We strive to provide our clients with compassionate and effective legal representation. We do more than that. Our child custody lawyers in Jacksonville, Florida, help empower women as they make their way through divorce.

Its emotional component is challenging for many as they move toward a new life. We also help ensure that their children do not suffer from these changes but are still enveloped in a supportive family as they grow to adulthood. To move forward complete our convenient form to have a team member contact you.