When parents dissolve their marriages through divorce or a non-married couple has a child out of wedlock, the state of Florida strives to ensure they provide financial support to their children. Section 61.30 of the Florida Statutes includes guidelines that the state’s family courts use to determine the fair amount of child support a parent must pay. These guidelines primarily focus on each parent’s income, the basic needs of the children, and healthcare and childcare costs.

The potential complications and emotional tumult that come with divorce are often compounded when children are involved. Impending divorce can strain each parent’s efforts to provide “the best” for their children, and both usually worry about how the children will be successfully raised by two different households post-divorce.

If asked to describe divorce with one word, you could probably come up with over a dozen adjectives, such as “messy,” “painful,” “stressful,” “contentious,” “costly,” and “overwhelming,” to name a few. However, divorce doesn’t have to be fraught with contention, apprehension, and other negative sentiments. A provision in Florida divorce law encourages couples to fairly and amicably dissolve their marriages outside of the courtroom and without costly litigation.

The emotional turmoil common with divorce typically subsides once it becomes finalized. However, divorcing couples with children may face ongoing and future turmoil relating to child custody. Whether developed by the parents or family court, parenting agreements designed to conform to Florida Statute 61.13—“Support of children; parenting and time-sharing”—must account for the best interest of the child(ren). In most cases, parents accept and abide by the time-sharing rights established by a parental agreement. But what should a parent do if a child decides that visitation isn’t in their...

“We have the greatest prenuptial agreement in the world. It’s called love.” —Gene Perret

The family law attorneys at Tallahassee’s Cowhey + Ward know that child custody and time sharing are among the most complex and emotionally charged issues addressed by the Florida Family Court system. As such, if you’re a parent facing a child custody case in family court, you must understand the critical aspects of child custody law to ensure that your child’s best interests are met. This article provides essential information that can help you navigate the child custody legal process in Florida.

Whether marriage dissolution, child custody, or any family-oriented issue, anyone seeking resolution in the Florida Family Court system often begins the process at a disadvantage. In addition to the likely unfamiliarity with family law and legal procedures, you must usually contend with the emotional stress arising from the issue(s).

Everyone knows that a skilled attorney can prove instrumental in securing favorable outcomes in criminal and civil court. But what about family law court? Other than contested divorces and contentious child custody issues, do you really need a lawyer?

Among the numerous challenges that arise when a couple separates or divorces, the issue of child custody often proves the most contentious. Splitting up the furniture and other possessions is difficult enough, but the powerful emotional bond between parent and child can make child custody decisions exceptionally tumultuous.