A major issue between parents who split up is who will get custody of their child. In many cases, if you do not particularly like the other parent or believe he or she may be irresponsible in some way, you may want to obtain sole custody rights. However, getting sole custody in Florida is extremely difficult.
In order to understand why this is the case, you should have a basic understanding of custody laws in Florida. First, there are two different aspects to child custody:
- Physical custody: the time you spend with your child visiting you or living with you; and
- Legal custody: the right to be a part of major decisions in the child’s life, including schooling, activities, religion, and medical care.
In Florida, physical custody is called “parenting time” and legal custody is often referred to as “parental responsibility.” How these rights are divided between parents is set out in a parenting plan that must be approved by the courts. Continue reading ›