Pinellas County Visitation Lawyers

Time-sharing and Visitation Rights

We also have law offices in Largo, Holiday & Palm Harbor serving Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties

K. Dean Kantaras is Board Certified in Marital and Family Law by the Florida Bar

Time-sharing arrangements determine the schedule of time that each parent spends with a child.  Establishing timesharing arrangements in a divorce case can be one of the most difficult challenges for parents to face.  If parents cannot reach an agreement themselves, it is essential to have skilled legal representation during the court proceedings.  The Clearwater and Pinellas County visitation attorneys at the Law Offices of Kantaras & Andreopoulos help clients protect their parental rights and the rights of their children.

Time-sharing and visitation rights

Time-sharing is now the official term for visitation arrangements in Florida divorce cases.  The Florida legislature enacted laws to change the term from visitation because parents objected to the implication that they were only visiting their child instead of having a regular parental relationship with him or her.

Determining a time-sharing arrangement

When evaluating or establishing a time-sharing arrangement, courts determine what situation is in the best interest of the child.  Here are some of the many factors that courts consider in determining time-sharing:

Nature of the relationship that each parent has with the child Cooperation level of the parents Ability of each parent to meet the basic and specific needs of the child Work schedule and financial resources of each parent Where each parent lives

Physical and mental health of each parent Evidence of domestic violence, abuse or neglect How long the child has lived in a stable home Performance of the child in school Preference of the child

 

Required parenting plans

When dealing with time-sharing arrangements, Florida courts require that divorcing parents draft a parenting plan that includes a time-sharing schedule and explains how they will meet the needs of their minor child.

Parents can use court guidelines or they can develop their own plan with the approval of the court.  When a court evaluates a parenting plan, the best interest of the child is always the primary consideration.

Largo, Holiday, Palm Harbor & Clearwater family law firms

K. Dean Kantaras is board certified in marital and family law by the Florida Bar

Developing a comprehensive parenting plan can be a daunting task, especially with all of the difficult emotions involved in divorce proceedings.  A skilled attorney at the Law Offices of Kantaras & Andreopoulos can help you draft a plan that meets your needs and the needs of your child.  Contact our family law firm in Clearwater for a consultation. We serve clients in Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough Counties.