When it comes time for the court to determine and establish a time sharing and parenting plan between the biological parents of a minor child, the court applies the “best interests of the child” test in making its consideration.
There are numerous factors that the court will look at in making its determination as to the best interests of the child. All of these various factors are set forth in Florida Statute 61.13. You can review the criteria under the statute and examine the nonexclusive list of things the judge will be looking at when you go to court.
What happens in a case, however, when only one biological parent is competing with a relative, for example, a grandparent, for custody and time sharing with a minor child? How will the court look at a situation like this? Will the judge apply the same standards regarding the best interests of the child in structuring a time sharing or custody arrangement of the child?