What Is Parental Time-Sharing In Florida And How Does It Work?
When parents seek a divorce in Florida, they must decide who will have custody of the children. If they cannot reach an agreement on their own, they may need the court to decide the child custody arrangement for them.
Let’s discuss how parental time-sharing works in Florida. If your divorce involves children, you may want to talk to an Orlando time-sharing attorney to discuss your situation and determine the best custody arrangement in your case.
What is Parental Time-Sharing?
Most states use the term “child custody” to describe the arrangement regarding children between parents upon a divorce. Florida, on the other hand, recognizes the term “parental time-sharing.”
Florida law encourages both parents to have equal parenting time with their children, even after a divorce. However, it is not always possible for divorced parents to share an equal amount of time with their kids, which is why parents may need to work out a different time-sharing arrangement.
What Are the Different Time-Sharing Schedules?
While divorced parents are free to work out a unique time-sharing schedule that fits their particular needs and circumstances, some of the most common 50/50 time-sharing schedules are as follows:
- Alternating weeks. One of the parents spends the full week (seven days) with the kids, and then the other parent spends the next week with the children.
- The 3-4-4-3 schedule. One parent spends three days with the children, and then the other parent spends four days with the kids. The next week, the first parent spends four days (instead of three), and the other parent spends the next three (instead of four).
- The 2-2-5-5 schedule. One parent has children for two days, and then the other parent has kids for the next two days. Then, children spend five days with the first parent and then another five days with the second parent.
These are the common examples of equal (50/50) time-sharing schedules. For many divorced parents, a 60/40 or even 70/30 schedule may be more appropriate if one of the parents cannot spend a lot of time with the kids. It is advisable to consult with an experienced attorney to determine the best time-sharing arrangement for your particular circumstances.
When Do Florida Courts Approve Parenting Plans?
When parents get divorced in Florida, they must present a parenting plan for a court’s approval. In Florida, courts approve parenting plans when they contain the following:
- The time-sharing schedule detailing when and where the kids spend time each day
- How the parents will divide parental responsibilities and obligations
- How the parents will communicate with each other and their children when sharing custody
- Who will be responsible for making major decisions on behalf of the kids, including healthcare, education, and others
It is critical to contact a skilled time-sharing attorney to help you work out the appropriate time-sharing arrangement and develop the right parenting plan that will be approved by the Florida court. Discuss your particular case with our family lawyers at Donna Hung Law Group by calling 407-999-0099.
