Tampa Child Custody Lawyer

The time-sharing schedule should account for distance between the parents and circumstances including:

• The ages of the children
• Weekday and weekend visitation
• Holidays
• Annual vacations

If the parents can’t come to an agreement, or if a judge determines the schedule they established doesn’t serve the child’s best interests, the court can set the schedule. The resulting plan may also address school breaks, transportation, exchanges, communication, work travel, military service, school obligations, and safety concerns.

We help parents identify potential conflicts before terms are finalized and evaluate whether a proposed schedule can work during ordinary school weeks as well as holidays and vacations.

Types of Tampa Child Custody Cases We Handle

Some cases involve two parents who need a clear, workable parenting plan. Others include parents living far apart or situations where work travel, military service, substance abuse, mental health concerns, domestic violence, or other safety issues may affect the requested arrangement.

Our team regularly assists with initial parenting plans during divorce, paternity actions where unmarried parents need formal orders, and post-judgment modifications when life circumstances change. We also handle supervised time-sharing, temporary emergency requests, enforcement of existing schedules, and relocation-related disputes.

Safety-focused cases require careful attention to the available evidence and the relief permitted by Florida law. Depending on the facts and the court’s findings, an arrangement may involve supervised time-sharing, structured exchanges, communication limits, or other court-ordered protections. We prepare for negotiated and contested proceedings without assuming that the same solution fits every family.

When a Child Resists Time-Sharing

A child’s preference or refusal doesn’t independently modify a court-ordered parenting plan. Parents remain responsible for responding lawfully to the existing order unless the court approves a change or grants appropriate emergency relief.

When a child strongly resists spending time with a parent, the reasons matter. The surrounding circumstances may involve safety concerns, developmental issues, parental conflict, counseling, changes in routine, or the child’s relationship with either parent. A court may consider a sufficiently mature child’s preference, but the child doesn’t make the final legal decision.

We help parents organize relevant information and raise concerns without placing the child in the middle of litigation. Depending on the circumstances, the next step may involve communication between the parents, counseling information, mediation, a request to modify the plan, or an emergency filing when supported by the facts.

Enforcing Court-Ordered Time-Sharing

If you’re being denied court-ordered time-sharing in Florida, there are several steps you can take to address the situation:

• Review the court order: Confirm the schedule, exchange terms, notice requirements, and other obligations.
• Document the denial: Keep records of missed dates, communications, attempted exchanges, and reasons provided by the other parent.
• Communicate appropriately: Address misunderstandings calmly when communication is safe and consistent with the order.
• Consider mediation: Determine whether family mediation may help resolve the immediate dispute or clarify future terms.
• Seek enforcement: Ask the court to enforce the existing order when informal efforts don’t resolve the problem.
• Discuss legal representation: Work with counsel to identify the available remedy and prepare the supporting evidence.

Florida law permits several potential remedies for improper denial of time-sharing. Depending on the findings, these can include compensatory time, costs and attorney’s fees, parenting courses, community service, contempt, modification, or other reasonable sanctions. The appropriate remedy depends on the order, the violation, the evidence, and the child’s best interests.

A parent generally can’t withhold time-sharing because the other parent failed to pay child support. Likewise, a parent generally can’t stop paying court-ordered child support because time-sharing was denied. We handle enforcement disputes involving existing parenting plans and time-sharing schedules.

Relocation & Parenting Plan Modifications

Florida relocation law generally applies when a parent proposes to move a child’s principal residence at least 50 miles away for at least 60 consecutive days, subject to statutory exceptions. A parent generally must obtain a written agreement and court ratification or file a petition to relocate. If another person entitled to time-sharing files a timely objection, court approval may be required before the relocation proceeds.

Relocation can require a substantial revision to transportation, school-year schedules, holidays, vacations, and communication. We assist parents seeking to relocate as well as parents objecting to a move that would affect their relationship with the child.

A custody modification generally requires a substantial and material change in circumstances and a finding that the requested change serves the child’s best interests. Our attorneys evaluate changes in living arrangements, work schedules, school needs, safety concerns, compliance with the existing order, and other facts relevant to the proposed modification.

International moves and immigration proceedings can add another layer to a parenting dispute. Because our practice includes family law and immigration law, we can address related issues under one roof when a custody matter intersects with immigration concerns.

Our Process for Tampa Child Custody Cases

At an initial consultation, we review your current situation, any existing court orders, your goals for your child, and any urgent concerns. We also explain options for resolving the dispute, including negotiation, mediation, or a contested hearing.

As your case progresses, we help you gather and organize the documents and information that may be relevant. We prepare you for mediation by discussing likely areas of disagreement and helping you prioritize the terms that matter most to your family.

Our process typically involves:

• Initial case review: We identify your goals, urgent issues, and the status of current court orders.
• Information gathering: We organize records, communications, calendars, and other materials relevant to the dispute.
• Parenting plan development: We evaluate decision-making terms and schedules for ordinary weeks, holidays, vacations, and exchanges.
• Mediation preparation: We clarify priorities and prepare you to evaluate proposed parenting-plan terms.
• Court preparation: We organize testimony, exhibits, filings, and legal arguments when a hearing is necessary.
• Ongoing communication: We keep you informed about deadlines, filings, hearings, and next steps.

Board-Certified Family Law Guidance

At K. Dean Kantaras, P.A., we draw on more than 30 years of service to Florida families and more than four decades of combined family-law experience. Our team includes two Board Certified Family Law Attorneys, founder K. Dean Kantaras and Stephanie J. Cavill. Board certification recognizes demonstrated experience, substantial involvement, peer review, and testing in a particular field of law.

K. Dean Kantaras has also been selected for the Super Lawyers® list and holds Board Certification in Marital and Family Law from The Florida Bar.

We evaluate both the legal standard and the practical effect of a parenting plan on school days, work schedules, exchanges, holidays, communication, and important decisions. When family-law and immigration issues overlap, our dual practice allows us to evaluate those related concerns together.

To discuss parental responsibility, time-sharing, relocation, modification, or enforcement with a Tampa child custody lawyer, call K. Dean Kantaras, P.A. at (813) 669-3600 or contact us online now.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can Custody Disputes Affect Children?

Children may experience anxiety, sadness, confusion, or changes in behavior during a parenting dispute. Parents can support stability by maintaining routines, avoiding negative discussions about the other parent, and keeping the child out of adult conflict. Counseling or other professional support may be appropriate when a child needs a separate place to discuss the transition.

Do Grandparents Have Visitation Rights in Florida?

Florida grandparents’ visitation rights are limited and depend on specific statutory circumstances. A grandparent’s belief that visitation would benefit the child isn’t always enough to establish a legal claim. The child’s family circumstances, existing orders, and applicable statutory requirements must be reviewed before determining whether a petition is available.

Is Mediation Required in a Custody Case?

Mediation may be required or available depending on the proceeding and applicable court procedures. It gives parents an opportunity to discuss parenting-plan terms with a neutral mediator. The mediator doesn’t decide the dispute, and any proposed agreement must be properly documented and submitted for court approval when required.

Can I Relocate with My Child After a Custody Order?

Florida relocation law generally applies when a proposed move would change the child’s principal residence by at least 50 miles for at least 60 consecutive days, subject to statutory exceptions. A parent generally must obtain a written agreement and court ratification or file a petition to relocate. If another person entitled to time-sharing objects on time, the court may need to approve the move before it proceeds.

When Can I Request a Parenting Plan Modification?

A modification generally requires a substantial and material change in circumstances and a finding that the requested change serves the child’s best interests. The court reviews the current order, the evidence supporting the requested change, and the proposed plan’s effect on the child.

What Commonly Causes Parenting Plan Disputes?

Disputes frequently involve decision-making authority, school placement, work schedules, holidays, transportation, relocation, communication, safety concerns, and compliance with existing orders. The legal response depends on the current parenting plan, the evidence, the requested relief, and the child’s best interests.

Discuss your next step with two Board Certified Family Law Attorneys backed by more than four decades of combined family-law experience. Call K. Dean Kantaras, P.A. at (813) 669-3600 or contact us online now about your Tampa child custody matter.