Alcoholism can significantly affect child custody determinations in Florida because courts must evaluate whether a parent can provide a safe and stable environment for a child. In every parenting plan or time sharing determination, Florida courts apply the statutory best interests of the child standard...
When a child is in immediate danger, Florida courts allow parents to seek emergency judicial intervention through an emergency custody order. Parents in Miami-Dade County often need urgent legal action when circumstances involve abuse, abandonment, threats of removal from the state, or other situations placing...
Parents frequently ask whether they can change their child’s school after divorce in Florida. The answer depends on several legal factors including the parenting plan, the allocation of parental responsibility, and the child’s best interests under Florida law. In Miami and throughout Florida, courts emphasize...
Co-parenting with a difficult ex in Florida can create ongoing stress, confusion, and legal disputes for families attempting to raise children after separation or divorce. In Miami and throughout Miami-Dade County, family courts frequently encounter high-conflict parenting relationships where communication between parents breaks down and...
Parental alienation Florida cases arise when one parent interferes with or damages the relationship between a child and the other parent. In Florida family courts, allegations of parental alienation are evaluated under the best interests of the child standard found in Florida Statutes § 61.13....
Divorce involving a special needs child in Florida requires a carefully structured parenting plan that protects the child’s developmental, medical, educational, and emotional needs. A Florida parenting plan for a special needs child must comply with statutory requirements, reflect the best interests of the child,...
Ultimate decision making authority arises in custody disputes when parents share parental responsibility but cannot consistently agree on important issues affecting their child. Florida family law strongly favors shared parental responsibility, meaning both parents must confer and jointly make major decisions about a child’s upbringing....
The role of a Guardian ad Litem Florida family law cases is often misunderstood by parents involved in custody and parenting disputes. In Miami and throughout Florida, courts may appoint a Guardian ad Litem to investigate and report on issues affecting the best interests of...
Stepparent custody Florida law is a complex issue that arises frequently in Miami family court proceedings. When a marriage ends or a parent becomes unable to care for a child, stepparents sometimes seek legal custody or parental responsibility. However, Florida courts treat stepparents as nonparents...