Overview of Florida Child Visitation Rules
Visitation, or parenting time, with a minor child represents a contentious point in any divorce and post-divorce matters. Indeed, a great deal of time in divorce cases with children focuses on addressing visitation issues. In addition, many post-divorce cases involve matters pertaining to visitation or parenting time. Therefore, it is important to remember some basic child visitation rules.
Best Interests of the Child
The most important of the rules surrounding child visitation to remember is what is known as the best interests of the child standard. This is the essential rule when it comes to make decisions in regard to child visitation.
What this means is that decisions made in regard to child visitation must be made with the best interests of the child in mind. This is the paramount concern when it comes to developing a child visitation or parenting time schedule.
Factors to Consider in Regard to Best Interests of the Child.
Determining what is in the best interests of a child is made on a case by case basis. The court considers a variety of factors that include such things as the overall physical, psychological and emotional status of the parties and the minor child. The court will consider the living situation of the parent seeking to exercise child visitation or parenting time. The age of the child is also a factor in determining how and when visitation will be undertaken.
Legal Representation
As mentioned a moment ago, issues surrounding child visitation can be contentious. The law in this area, including the various rules associated with child visitation are complex. For these reasons, retaining the services of an experienced child visitation attorney is crucial in most instances.
A child visitation attorney will schedule an initial consultation with a parent at no obligation and no cost. During such a session, a lawyer explains the overall set of rules associated with child visitation. An examination of possible strategies to pursue or modify child visitation will also be discussed in such a preliminary session with an attorney.
