A good Child Custody Lawyers, Family Lawyers, Divorce Lawyers, Fathers Rights Lawyers in Palm Beach County Florida can help you resolve your legal battles involving the well-being of your family. The right attorney can assist you in the process of legal separation, divorce, custody and visitation arrangements, property division, alimony, and domestic violence. They can also guide you on other areas of family law such as child support, paternity establishment, and more.
Parents in Florida may reach their own agreements regarding parental responsibilities, including time-sharing schedules and decision-making powers, or the court will intervene and issue its own order after a hearing. The primary focus of any child custody decision, however, is the best interests of the children involved. The courts will consider the parents’ proposed custody and visitation schedules, any concerns expressed by a child’s guardian ad litem, and any other factors deemed relevant in the case.
Both parents have equal rights to physical custody (also called “time-sharing”) of their children in Florida, regardless of who is the primary caregiver for those children. While many couples assume that courts favor mothers in these matters, the truth is that the courts will award shared custody to both parties whenever possible based on the best interest of the children. The same applies to joint legal custody, where both parents share decisions-making authority over the child’s education, medical care, religious upbringing, and other important aspects of life.
In some cases, the courts will allow a child to choose who they want to live with, but this is rare and only done when a judge determines it is in the best interest of the child. Otherwise, the courts will use a variety of statutory factors to make their determination. These include the child’s age, the history of each parent in the child’s life, the child’s health and emotional needs, the child’s relationship with each parent, and other considerations.
A father who believes his current custody or visitation arrangement is no longer in his children’s best interests has options, including mediation and filing a petition with the court for modification. He should seek the assistance of a Palm Beach family law attorney to ensure his parental rights are protected throughout these processes.
The attorneys at Hudson Family Law are passionate about protecting the parental rights of their clients in child custody disputes and other family law matters. They can help you negotiate a mutually agreeable parenting plan with your spouse or other parent and, when necessary, can fight aggressively in court for a favorable resolution to your case. Contact the office today to schedule a consultation with a qualified Palm Beach child custody attorney.