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When parents go through a divorce or separation involving children, one of the most important legal matters to address is parental responsibility and timesharing. In Fort Lauderdale, custody and visitation, which determine whom the children live and spend time with, are called timesharing. These issues can be worked out through negotiations, mediation, or addressed by the court. In some cases, experts such as Guardian Ad Litems, social investigators, child psychologists, and therapists will need to get involved as well. Regardless of the situation, issues involving children can be emotional and delicate for all parties involved, and Danielle Ostrovsky understands that firsthand.
Parental responsibility refers to the legal rights and responsibilities that parents have with regard to their children. It gives parents the right to make major decisions regarding their child’s upbringing, such as education, healthcare, and extracurricular activities.
The most common type of parental responsibility that Fort Lauderdale courts prefer, as long as it is in the best interest of the child, is Shared Parental Responsibility. Shared Parental Responsibility means that both parents jointly make major decisions for their minor child. Another type of parental responsibility is Sole Parental Responsibility, where one parent has the sole right to make major decisions for the minor child. This occurs in situations where the court determines it is in the best interests of the minor child that one parent makes major decisions. There is also a hybrid of the two, called Shared Parental Responsibility with Ultimate Decision Making Authority.
In addition to parental responsibility, when parents go through a divorce or separation involving children, timesharing also needs to be determined. In Fort Lauderdale, timesharing refers to the time a minor child spends with each parent. This includes a regular weekday and weekend schedule as well as a holiday schedule. These arrangements are documented in a legal Parenting Plan. The Parenting Plan outlines specific timesharing arrangements and includes other details such as how the parents will communicate, how the children will be transported to school and extracurricular activities, and which parent’s address will be used for school boundary designation. If parents cannot agree on a Parenting Plan and timesharing schedule, the court will step in to make these decisions for them based on the best interest of the minor child.
When developing a Parenting Plan, the Fort Lauderdale court considers various factors, such as the child’s age, developmental needs, the child’s reasonable preference, and whether the parents can communicate and cooperate effectively.
At Ostrovsky Law, we understand that parental responsibility and timesharing can be a sensitive topic filled with emotions. Danielle has years of experience handling Fort Lauderdale parental responsibility and timesharing issues. She provides the guidance and representation you need to protect your rights and the best interests of your minor child. Danielle works closely with her clients to listen to their goals and concerns, helping them develop a Parenting Plan and timesharing schedule tailored to their unique situation. As a mother herself, Danielle understands the importance of including every little detail in a Parenting Plan to ensure effective co-parenting that serves the best interests of the child.
If you need help with a parental responsibility and timesharing issue in Fort Lauderdale, contact Ostrovsky Law today to schedule a consultation with Danielle Ostrovsky. She is here to help you through this challenging time and achieve the best possible outcome for your case.
Parental Responsibility is the parents ability to make major decisions that affect the minor children such as where the children will go to school, medical care, and other aspects of the child’s life. Timesharing, which formerly was known as custody, is the time that the minor children spend with each parent. In a Florida divorce or paternity case, a Parenting Plan will be signed by the parties or entered by the Court, which will state the type of parental responsibility that the parents have, and a timesharing schedule for the parents and the minor children to follow.
Shared parental responsibility means that both parents have equal decision-making authority and must consult with each other when making major decisions. Florida defaults to shared parental responsibility in the vast majority of cases. Shared parental responsibility with ultimate decision making is when the parents first try to jointly agree on a major decision, such as where the children will go to school and if they cannot jointly agree, then the parent that has the ultimate decision gets to make the final decision on which school they will go to.
In general, it is rare for a parent to be completely denied timesharing unless there are serious concerns about the child’s safety or well-being. However, the court may impose restrictions on timesharing or require supervised visitation if it is deemed necessary to protect the child’s best interests.
As Fort Lauderdale grows, families face important decisions about parental responsibility and timesharing during divorce and separation. These sensitive issues require legal expertise and a deep understanding of family dynamics. Having an experienced Fort Lauderdale parental responsibility and timesharing attorney ensures that the child’s best interests are protected, and parents can co-parent effectively.
If you are dealing with a parental responsibility or timesharing issue in Fort Lauderdale, contact Ostrovsky Law at 954-641-2388 or fill out our contact form to schedule a consultation. We can help you understand your rights and secure the best outcome for your child.
In addition to serving Fort Lauderdale, our family law firm works in Davie, Pembroke Pines, Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Cooper City, Coral Springs, Plantation, and Pompano Beach.
