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Florida Child Visitation Laws

When it comes to men’s rights to child visitation, lawyer Matthew P. Irwin say Florida legal code gives men and women the same visitation rights. Lawyers who focus on men’s rights, like Mr. Irwin, can help men protect and assert their rights to visitation because they understand the law and know how to overcome the pervasive prejudice toward women in matters of child custody and visitation.

The bottom line is that Florida law no longer distinguishes one parent as the custodial parent and the other as the visiting parent. This archaic terminology and custody structure has been replaced by Parenting Plans in which both parents are given equal right to time with the child. Only when circumstances don’t allow for equal time, or there is reason to restrict a parent’s time with their child, does one parent spend more time with the child than the other.

How Courts Decide Child Visitation—Lawyer Explains

Florida legal code dictates that judges, when approving or creating a parenting plan for a divorcing couple, must consider the child’s best interest above all other considerations. However, there are no rules for deciding what is in the best interest of the child, so determining that is left to each judge’s discretion.

If a divorcing couple can agree on a parenting plan and the presiding judge rules that it does not interfere with the child’s best interests, it is likely to be approved. However, fathers should not be talked into taking less time with the child than the mother unless that is what they want or circumstances make it unavoidable. Do not assume that a judge would give you less time with your child, because the law requires judges to consider the father and mother as equals unless there is reason to think otherwise.

If the parents cannot agree on a parenting plan, then a judge must create one for them. Handled correctly, this can be very advantageous for the father. The law assumes that father and mother have equal rights to time with their child and if one parent wants more time, or believes the other parent should have less time with the child, that parent must prove to the court that there is good cause and that it is in the child’s best interest to award unequal parenting time.

When approving or creating a parenting plan, a judge will consider and balance many factors. Some of those factors are:

• Safety of the children
• Education of the children
• Potential stress of the visitation schedule on the children
• Behavior (including abuse of spouse or child) & attitudes of parents
• Value of visitation with the non-custodial parent to the children
• Travel distance required for visitation
• Psychological impact of visitation on the children

Your local visitation rights lawyers will be familiar with how your judge thinks and which factors they are likely to give more importance. It’s important to have a qualified child visitation lawyer on your side who can tailor your legal arguments to the judge presiding over your case.

Need to Discuss Your Rights Concerning Child Visitation?

If you would like to talk about your rights concerning child visitation, we are happy to talk with you. In Florida legal rights to time with their child are the same for fathers and mothers; find out how visitation rights lawyers like Mr. Irwin, can help protect your rights.

If you have any questions about your Florida divorce or would like a Consultation, please call us at 866-995-0166 or email us today.

More resources for you:

You can find more information on divorce, custody and support issues on our Free Resources page.

The links below will take you to articles on subjects related to visitation in our Practice Areas section:

• Father’s Rights in Child Visitation
• Father’s Rights in Child Custody
• Father’s Rights in Child Support