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...
Minor children testifying in Florida family court is a sensitive legal issue governed by strict procedural rules and protective safeguards. Florida courts generally prohibit the involvement of minor children in family law litigation unless a judge determines that testimony is necessary and good cause exists....
Military relocation and Florida parenting plan issues arise when a parent serving in the armed forces must move due to military orders while also maintaining court ordered time sharing with a minor child. Florida courts frequently encounter these situations in family law cases involving service...
Homeschooling and custody in Florida is an increasingly important issue in family law cases, especially when divorced or separated parents disagree about a child’s education. Florida courts do not treat homeschooling as a special custody category or automatic reason to award or deny time-sharing. Instead,...
Under Florida Statute 61.13, a court may modify a parenting plan or time-sharing schedule only if the moving party proves a substantial, material, and unanticipated change in circumstances since the last order and demonstrates that the requested modification is in the child’s best interests. This...
Custody rights of unmarried fathers under Florida law is a frequent topic in Miami family courts because many children in Florida are born to unmarried parents. When parents are not married, Florida law treats the legal rights of the father differently than those of a...