Timesharing and Visitation for Jacksonville, Florida Military
by William Dorsey (The Dorsey Law Firm)Parenting Plans in Florida
Florida laws require court approved parenting plans detailing shared responsible for raising their children. In order to receive court approval, the parenting plans must detail when and how much time each child will spend with each parent, school schedules, and any necessary health information. In addition, the parenting plan must include information as to how each parent will work together for the benefit of their children.
Generally, Florida laws recognize how important it is for each parent to maintain close contact with their children and of special importance is the sharing of responsible. The “Best Interest of the Child” standard is the guide that takes all factors into consideration when determining what is best for the child.
Effect of Military Service
Florida custody rules allow for military service but what is most important in these rules is the fact that Florida laws do not assume that what is in the best interest of the child is to go to the non-military parent. The law instead provides modifications to the parenting plan in case the service member-parent is scheduled for deployment.
A temporary modification is created whereby timesharing is altered during deployment. Once deployment is over, the original parenting plan is put back in place. In addition, alterations may be made to allow an extended time for visitation with the child during leave time. In other situations where the service member-parent is deployed for more than 90 days, the service member-parent can designate a third party to act on their behalf but the third party can only be a family member or step-parent.
In cases where the service member-parent is permanently resigned, other arrangements may be needed. In this case, a new parenting plan may need to be crafted to accommodate the new arrangements. As with the first parenting plan, the new revised parenting plan must also follow the “Best Interest of the Child” standard. Naturally, the best parenting plan always accounts for possible future deployment negating the reason to return to court for modification. If however, court intervention is necessary, the law ensures that the hearing shall be expedited and any necessary accommodations made so the service member-parent can be present via telephone. The law also ensures the service member receives flexibility so they are not penalized for service to their country.
Legal Help for Military Families
In Florida, the Jacksonville Family Law Attorney understands that all families have different needs and that all situations should be analyzed on a case by case basis. We also understand how important it is to have a legal professional present to ensure that you have proper representation throughout the entire legal process and all court hearings.
