Miami family law attorney blog
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Child Custody
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
A parent who is shown to have anger and substance abuse issues may be limited to supervised visits with a child. Can a court order that parent to attend counseling, to refrain from consuming alcohol and/or to join Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)? This was an issue in the case Tucker v. Tucker, 5D23-208 (Fla. 5th DCA July 7, 2023).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
Relocation and modification of a Florida parenting plan are two distinct requests for relief. When relocation is sought, it is important that the issue of modification also be properly presented to the court. This was an issue in the case Ayala v. Vega, 4D22-1779 (Fla. 4th DCA July 12, 2023).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
Florida law has changed as it relates to paternity beginning July 1, 2023. Now, unwed fathers have greater standing when it comes to asserting parental rights. Before, the mother of a child born out of wedlock was considered the natural guardian of the child and therefore entitled to full custody and control of the child until a court order was entered otherwise. Recent legislation changed this. The case Miller v. Gordon, 1D22-888 (Fla. 1st DCA July 5, 2023) was decided based on now inapplicable law, but it still makes an important distinction when it comes to determining a temporary parenting plan.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
Make-up timesharing can be awarded to a parent who successfully proves that the other parent wrongfully withheld time-sharing. This is authorized by the Florida Statutes in addition to other remedies. This was an issue in the case Eadie v. Gillis, 5D22-2732 (Fla. 5th DCA June 16, 2023).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
Relocation cases are difficult to decide sometimes because moving a child from a primary residence can be disruptive. According to the Florida Statutes, “A presumption in favor of or against a request to relocate with the child does not arise if a parent or other person seeks to relocate and the move will materially affect the current schedule of contact, access, and time-sharing with the nonrelocating parent or other person.” Fla. Stat. 61.13001(7). Relocation was an issue in the case Pun v. Pun, 1D21-3575 (Fla. 1st DCA June 14, 2023).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
When a parenting plan is modified, there has to be a finding of a substantial, material and unanticipated change in circumstances. A finding must also be made that modification is in the best interest of the children. This was an issue in the case Davis v. Davis, 6D23-458 (Fla. 6th DCA May 19, 2023).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
Shared responsibility is presumed to be in the best interest of a child under Florida law. This presumption can be overcome if a parent can prove that shared parental responsibility is detrimental to a child. This was an issue in the case Mooningham v. Mooningham, 5D22-1800 (Fla. 5th DCA April 28, 2023).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
What is a case management conference in a Florida family law case? This is a routine hearing at which the court determines the status of the case and the next steps for moving it forward. Unless all parties have been given proper notice, this type of hearing is not one at which the court can make substantive decisions about a case. This was an issue in the case Fulcher v. Allen, 6D23-957 (Fla. 6th DCA April 21, 2023).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
Florida child custody orders are modifiable under certain circumstances. Sometimes emergencies arise which affect the best interest of the children involved in the case. This must be weighed with due process rights of both parents. This was an issue in the case Saenz v. Sanchez, 3D22-1476 (Fla. 3d DCA April 19, 2023).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
A parenting coordinator can be appointed in a Florida family law case to assist parents with conflict resolution. The Florida Statutes provide: “The purpose of parenting coordination is to provide a child-focused alternative dispute resolution process whereby a parenting coordinator assists the parents in creating or implementing a parenting plan by facilitating the resolution of disputes between the parents by providing education, making recommendations, and, with the prior approval of the parents and the court, making limited decisions within the scope of the court’s order of referral.” See Fla. Stat. Chp. 61.125. This was an issue in the case Thorton v. WIldes, 4D22-0657 (Fla. 4th DCA March 22, 2023).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
What is shared parental responsibility in Florida? This refers to the right of each parent to make major decisions regarding their children, including what school they attend, what doctor they see, etc. When there is shared parental responsibility, it means both parents must agree on these issues before they are decided. This is different from sole or ultimate decision-making authority, which means one parent makes the decisions without regard to the other parent’s input or opinion. This was an issue in the case Rankin v. Lounsbury, 3D21-2472 (Fla. 3d DCA March 15, 2023).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
A petition for temporary custody by an extended relative can be filed in Florida by (a) A relative of a minor child within the third degree by blood or marriage to the parent; (b) The stepparent of a minor child if the stepparent is currently married to the parent of the child and is not a party in a pending dissolution, separate maintenance, domestic violence, or other civil or criminal proceeding in any court of competent jurisdiction involving one or both of the child’s parents as an adverse party; or (c) An individual who qualifies as “fictive kin”, defined by the Florida Statutes as “a person unrelated by birth, marriage, or adoption who has an emotionally significant relationship, which possesses the characteristics of a family relationship, to a child.” A temporary custody order was at issue in the case E.L. v. A.L., 2D22-825 (Fla. 2d DCA March 3, 2023).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
Can a parent be held in contempt of a Florida child custody order if there are conflicting orders concerning the exchange of the child? In order to be held in a contempt, the terms of the order at issue must be clear and concise in stating what a party can or cannot do. An unclear or contradicting order may be insufficient to hold a party in contempt. This was an issue in the case Varner v. Varner, 5D23-107 (Fla. 5th DCA February 17, 2023).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
Modifications to a parent’s time-sharing in Florida generally cannot be done without notice to the parent. This means a motion and an opportunity to be heard. Sometimes courts schedule case management conferences which are hearings at which the court determines the status of the case, and the next steps. These are not usually noticed as evidentiary hearings, so when substantive action is taken in a case at these types of hearings, there are due process concerns. This was an issue in the case Nomura v. Hata, 3D22-1731 (Fla. 3d DCA January 18, 2023).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
Generally, a Florida parenting plan cannot have provisions which provide for automatic modification of a parenting plan in the future. This is because the court cannot assess the future best interest of the child. However, the recent case N.B. v. R.V. 2D22-195 (Fla. 2d DCA January 18, 2023) discusses an exception to this rule.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
What is a social investigation in a Florida child custody case? According to the Florida Statutes, “In any action where the parenting plan is at issue because the parents are unable to agree, the court may order a social investigation and study concerning all pertinent details relating to the child and each parent when such an investigation has not been done and the study therefrom provided to the court by the parties or when the court determines that the investigation and study that have been done are insufficient. [. . .] A social investigation and study, when ordered by the court, shall be conducted by qualified staff of the court; a child-placing agency licensed pursuant to s. 409.175; a psychologist licensed pursuant to chapter 490; or a clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, or mental health counselor licensed pursuant to chapter 491.” See Fla. Stat. Chp. 61.20.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
Can I move with my children to a different county or state? This is a frequently asked question when parents separate in Florida. The answer depends on whether the parents are married, and whether court proceedings for custody or in progress or have already taken place. Relocation of children is governed by Florida Statute 61.13001.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
Can the court require a parent to undergo a psychological evaluation in a Florida child custody case? Yes, if certain requirements are met. The parent’s mental condition must be in controversy and there must be good cause for the examination. A parent appealed the court’s order requiring him to undergo a psychological evaluation in the case Childs v. Cruz-Childs, 2D22-787 (Fla. 2d DCA December 28, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
When filing a petition for modification of a Florida parenting plan, a parent has to be careful to include all desired relief in his or her petition. This is because the court cannot grant relief that is not requested in the petition, as doing so would violate the due process rights of the other parent. This was an issue in the case Picard v. Picard, 2D21-3500 (Fla. 2d DCA December 21, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida child custody
When a parent undermines the other parent’s attempts to meaningfully co-parent or make important decisions about a child’s welfare, a motion for contempt or enforcement may be appropriate. However, a petition for modification of a parenting plan may also be proper. This was an issue in the case Matheson v. Matheson, 2D21-1780 (Fla. 2d DCA December 7, 2022).
