Miami family law attorney blog
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Florida parenting plan
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
Can a Florida court temporarily modify a child custody determination? Depending on the circumstances, a temporary order may be entered to protect a child. But if there is no emergency, a court may not be able to modify a child custody determination without a properly filed petition for modification. This was an issue in the case Radko v. Levi, 4D2024-0162 (Fla. 4th DCA September 4, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
Inconsistencies in a Florida family law final judgment can leave the parties in a place of uncertainty. This is why it may be important to address inconsistencies through appropriate filings with the court, especially as it relates to the best interest of children. This was an issue in the case Dowers v. Johnson, 4D2024-0493 (Fla. 4th DCA July 31, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
Florida law has consistently held that a court is not permitted to delegate its decision-making authority to third parties when it comes to child custody issues. This is because the court, and not other professionals, are charged with making decisions that affect the best interest of a child. This was an issue in the case Malley v. Malley, 4D2023-0332 (Fla. 4th DCA June 20, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
Delay in entering a Florida family law final judgment may require that the court conduct another trial. This is especially true where children are involved. In a recent case in which the court entered a parenting plan one year after it held a trial, the appellate court reversed the final judgment because it was not based on evidence concerning the best interest of the children.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
Many Florida family law agreements such as prenuptial agreements, parenting plans, and marital settlement agreements contain clauses that have both parties waiving payment of attorney’s fees by the other party. Are these waivers enforceable? Some are not, and this was an issue in the case Bauman v. Agudelo, 3D23-1954 (Fla. 3d DCA May 8, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
When parties enter a parenting plan in Florida, and it is ratified by a court order, there are limited situations in which that parenting plan can be cancelled. This was an issue in the case Chan v. Addison, 6D23-2856 (Fla. 6th DCA April 19, 2024).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
Due process usually requires that all parties be on notice as to what will be considered at trial. Notice is typically given via the pleadings. If a party tries to request something at a hearing or trial that was not included in their pleadings, the other party can object. If the other party does not object, the issue may be tried by consent. This was discussed in the case Alarcon v. Dagen, 3D22-140 (Fla. 3d DCA November 8, 2023).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
What kind of schedule will the judge order for time-sharing in a Florida child custody case? The primary consideration when creating a time-sharing schedule is the best interest of the child. There is a presumption that equal time-sharing is in the best interest of a child. There are different versions of an equal time-sharing schedule, and if this is being considered in your case, you should consider how each version may affect your child. This was an issue in the case Stuart v. Lapete, 1D23-0213 (Fla. 1st DCA September 13, 2023).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
Florida law has changed as it relates to paternity beginning July 1, 2023. Now, unwed fathers have greater standing when it comes to asserting parental rights. Before, the mother of a child born out of wedlock was considered the natural guardian of the child and therefore entitled to full custody and control of the child until a court order was entered otherwise. Recent legislation changed this. The case Miller v. Gordon, 1D22-888 (Fla. 1st DCA July 5, 2023) was decided based on now inapplicable law, but it still makes an important distinction when it comes to determining a temporary parenting plan.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
What is shared parental responsibility in Florida? This refers to the right of each parent to make major decisions regarding their children, including what school they attend, what doctor they see, etc. When there is shared parental responsibility, it means both parents must agree on these issues before they are decided. This is different from sole or ultimate decision-making authority, which means one parent makes the decisions without regard to the other parent’s input or opinion. This was an issue in the case Rankin v. Lounsbury, 3D21-2472 (Fla. 3d DCA March 15, 2023).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
When filing a petition for modification of a Florida parenting plan, a parent has to be careful to include all desired relief in his or her petition. This is because the court cannot grant relief that is not requested in the petition, as doing so would violate the due process rights of the other parent. This was an issue in the case Picard v. Picard, 2D21-3500 (Fla. 2d DCA December 21, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
Is it easy to suspend a parent’s time-sharing in a Florida child custody case? If a parenting plan has been established and one parent alleges a threat to the safety or welfare of the children that requires suspension of time-sharing, it is possible for this to occur. The parent whose time-sharing is affected must be afforded due process. This means a fair process with notice to the parent that his or her time-sharing will be suspended.
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
Before a court can change a Florida parenting plan, both parties must be on notice of what to expect before a hearing is held. This notice is usually given by way of a motion filed by a party. In the motion, the party states allegations made against the other party and requests the relief desired. If a court grants relief not requested by a party, the order may be subject to appeal. This was an issue in the case Bowers v. Smith, 5D22-730 (Fla. 5th DCA November 7, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
What is a writ of certiorari in a Florida child custody case? This is a way to appeal a decision of a trial court that is alleged to cause irreparable harm. In many cases, it may not be possible to appeal a temporary order entered in a case. However, this writ allows for appeal of some temporary orders. This was an issue in the case Payne v. Koch, 5D21-2427 (Fla. 5th DCA April 14, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
In order to modify a Florida parenting plan, a parent must show there has been a substantial change in circumstances that was not contemplated at the time of entering the parenting plan. Additionally, the other parent must have notice and an opportunity to be heard by the court before a parenting plan can be modified. This was an issue in the case Ceballos v. Barreto, 4D22-104 (Fla. 4th DCA April 13, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
A Florida parenting plan generally cannot contain clauses that automatically change time-sharing in the future. This is called a prospective-based best interest analysis and is disfavored. This is because it is difficult to know what the best interest of a child will be in the future, and this should be examined in real time. This was an issue in the case T.A. v. A.S., 2D21-1236 (Fla. 2d DCA March 4, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
A parent’s abuse of alcohol and/or drugs can be taken into account in a Florida child custody case. If a court awards time-sharing to one parent over the other based on the other parent’s substance abuse issues, can the other parent petition to modify time-sharing if he or she achieves sobriety? This was an issue in the case Daniello v. Settle, 4D20-2732 (Fla. 4th DCA March 2, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
What is a pick-up order in a Florida child custody case? This type of order is usually entered after a parent shows that the other parent or another person wrongfully has physical custody of a child. The order allows law enforcement authorities to pick-up the child and deliver the child to the parent who was granted the pick-up order. This was an issue in the case Hodge v. Babcock, 3D22-0167 (Fla. 3d DCA February 16, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
A Florida parenting plan can include many provisions, but there are some limits on what is allowable. One provision that is usually prohibited is a prospective change in time-sharing. For example, a parenting plan that says a time-sharing schedule will automatically change once a child turns a certain age may not be enforceable. This was an issue in the case Harrell v. Cook, 1D20-1379 (Fla. 1st DCA January 12, 2022).
Posted by Nydia Streets of Streets Law in Florida Child Custody
Usually a parenting plan that has been ratified by a final judgment in Florida remains in place until a party files a petition for modification and successfully convinces a court that there has been a substantial change in circumstances which warrants modification. An order temporarily modifying a permanent parenting plan can be entered if there is a showing of emergency circumstances. This was an issue in the case Esse v. Pepe-Katalinas, 5D20-2599 (Fla. 5th DCA November 12, 2021).
