Palm Harbor Child Custody Lawyer

Helping You Do What's Best for Your Child

There's a lot at stake during custody battles in Palm Harbor, FL. Unfortunately, how you handle your child custody dispute can affect your relationship with your co-parent and child for years, making navigating a child custody case daunting.

At K. Dean Kantaras, P.A., our Palm Harbor child custody attorneys are committed to helping you pursue an outcome in your child custody case that enables your children to thrive and helps you maintain close contact with them. Our tailored approach addresses each family’s unique circumstances, focusing on minimizing conflict and promoting solutions that benefit everyone involved, emphasizing the child's best interests.

Our Palm Harbor child custody attorneys at K. Dean Kantaras, P.A. are here to help. In life, no job is more important than parenting. Having a knowledgeable legal partner ensures that your rights and interests are safeguarded throughout the process. Trust us to navigate the complexities and steer the case toward a positive resolution.

In law, few cases are more rewarding than guarding or repairing a parent’s rightful position in their child’s life.

Call today to schedule to speak to one of our top-rated child custody attorneys whose experience in local courts provides invaluable insights into your case.

To Schedule a Consultation With Our Palm Harbor Legal Team, Contact Our Law Firm Online or Via Phone at (727) 939-6113!

Terms You Need to Know During a Child Custody Dispute

Before we cover how Florida law handles child custody, let’s review some terms you should know. Florida courts prefer to use alternative words during child custody battles, emphasizing parents' shared responsibility to do what's best for their children.

As a result, specific terms like "custody" or "custodial/noncustodial parent" may or may not appear in your child custody case, depending on the judge presiding over your case.

You should familiarize yourself with the following terms: Understanding these will empower you in negotiations and court proceedings.

• Sole parental responsibility: When a parent has sole parental responsibility, the child lives with them all the time, and that parent is responsible for caring for the child. "Sole custody" is another phrase for this arrangement.
• Shared parental responsibility: In a shared parental responsibility arrangement, both parents have custody and work together to help their child thrive. They may take turns housing the child. Traditionally, shared parental responsibility is also called "joint custody."
• Majority timesharing: In a majority timesharing arrangement, one parent houses the child a majority (51%+) of the time. Traditionally, the parent with majority timesharing may be called the "custodial" parent. The other parent, who houses the child a minority of the time, may be called the "noncustodial" parent.
• Equal timesharing: In an equal timesharing arrangement, the parents house the child for an equal amount of time.

How Does Child Custody Work in FL?

By default, Florida courts assume that both parents should be involved in their child's life. For this reason, courts in FL tend to prefer shared parental responsibility over sole parental responsibility. Understanding local court preferences and expectations can be advantageous when preparing for court proceedings. Regions such as Palm Harbor and Largo may have nuances in how these principles are applied, reflecting the community's values and expectations.

However, the court may determine that one parent is unfit to act as a caregiver. A parent may be deemed unfit if they:

• Have a record of domestic violence;
• Have a record of acting cruelly towards or neglecting the child;
• Abuse alcohol or other substances;
• Have a mental or physical condition that prevents them from caring for the child;
• Don't have a safe home.

If you find yourself facing these complexities, our attorneys are well-versed in presenting your case effectively to demonstrate your capabilities as a custodial parent. Whether negotiating outside of court or providing robust representation in the courtroom, our strategic approach is designed to align each family's unique circumstances with the guiding principles of Florida custody law.

These are just some factors courts in FL consider when determining whether a parent is unfit to act as a custodian. If one parent is found unfit, the court may award the other parent sole parental responsibility to help them care for the child.

Understanding the Different Types of Child Custody in Florida

Navigating a child custody dispute can be complex, especially when it comes to understanding the various types of custody arrangements available in Florida. Familiarizing yourself with these terms can empower you to make informed decisions that are in the best interest of your child.

Here are the primary types of child custody recognized in Florida:

• Legal Custody: This refers to the right to make important decisions about your child's upbringing, including education, healthcare, and religious practices. Legal custody can be awarded to one parent (sole legal custody) or shared between both parents (joint legal custody).
• Physical Custody: This pertains to where the child will live. Similar to legal custody, physical custody can be sole or joint. In joint physical custody, the child spends significant time with both parents.
• Shared Custody: This arrangement allows both parents to be actively involved in their child's life, sharing responsibilities and time equally or as agreed upon.
• Sole Custody: In certain situations, one parent may be granted sole custody, meaning they have both legal and physical custody of the child, often due to circumstances that may not be in the child's best interest for shared arrangements.

Understanding these custody types can help you articulate your position and advocate for your child's needs during negotiations or court proceedings. Our experienced attorneys at K. Dean Kantaras, P.A. are here to guide you through this process, ensuring that you are well-informed and prepared to make the best decisions for your family.
 

Essential Steps for Navigating Child Visitation in Palm Harbor
 

Learning about the process for child visitation in Largo is crucial for parents striving to maintain a meaningful relationship with their child. Ensuring a fair visitation schedule involves collaboration between both parents and sometimes court interventions. At K. Dean Kantaras, P.A., our team assists clients by developing parenting plans that focus on frequency and quality of visits while prioritizing the child's emotional well-being.

The Pinellas County court system, which serves Largo, offers mediation services to facilitate smooth negotiations if disagreements arise. Engaging in mediation before seeking court judgment can help reduce conflicts and promote cooperative parenting arrangements. Our lawyers prepare clients thoroughly for mediation, arming them with strong negotiation strategies and clear documentation of their caregiving roles.

Understanding Parental Rights in the Context of Florida Law

Parental rights are a fundamental aspect of family law cases in Florida. Both parents possess inherent rights to make decisions regarding their child's education, health, and religious upbringing. In areas like Sarasota, FL, judges meticulously evaluate the capability of each parent to fulfill these responsibilities by assessing a range of criteria, including each parent’s historical involvement and future plans for the child's development.

When discussing parental rights with clients, our attorneys ensure that their knowledge of these rights is comprehensive. We provide a detailed analysis of each parent's strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities to contribute to their child’s upbringing. Furthermore, by integrating educational workshops and resources, we empower parents to make informed decisions that reflect their values and aspirations.

Schedule a Consultation With Our Palm Harbor Family Law Attorneys and Call (727) 939-6113