Parents want what is best for their children, and so do Florida courts. When it comes to Miami child custody cases, Florida law says a court's decisions must be guided by the best interest of the child. A Florida parenting plan may be crafted based on the unique needs of each family. The idea is that even though a child will split time between households, the parents will form a unified front in child-rearing. 

Parental Responsibility: Shared versus Sole

Parents are typically awarded shared parental responsibility absent a compelling reason to grant sole parental responsibility to one parent. Shared parental responsibility simply means the parents will work together to make joint decisions affecting the welfare of their children. Having shared parental responsibility generally means one parent cannot, for example, change a child's doctor or school without the agreement of the other parent.  The Miami-Dade County family court offers great resources for parents having trouble communicating or co-parenting, and it is important to take advantage of these services for the best interest of your child. 

Time-Sharing

Whether you are facing a Miami paternity case or a divorce case, maximizing time with your children is likely your most important goal. Putting forth the best case for this includes having knowledge of the factors the court considers in awarding time-sharing. Those factors include a parent's work schedule, the child's routine, the ability of each parent to co-parent and many more considerations. Courts have much less discretion in modifying a timesharing schedule than they have in creating one, so it is important to get it right the first time around. As of July 1, 2023, there is a rebuttable presumption in Florida child custody cases that equal time-sharing between parents is in the best interest of a child. Schedule a meeting with a Miami family law attorney to understand what this means for your case.

Miami Child Custody Lawyer

Having a Miami child custody attorney who understands that each family is unique is important in crafting your Florida parenting plan. Anyone can create a parenting plan template, but your child's future needs more than a template. Let Streets Law, LLC create one especially for your family that addresses special circumstances such as family traditions, social media rules and other issues. Contact Streets Law today to learn how to create a parenting plan that serves the best interest of your child.