Child Custody

Custody/Timesharing of Children

For clients with children, perhaps the most difficult and consequential aspects of their cases involve the determination of child custody and visitation. Child custody and visitation are more commonly referred to today as timesharing. Timesharing is effectuated through a parenting plan that outlines when and where the children will live and how parents will make decisions about the children’s lives. The parenting plan can have an enormous impact on your child’s well-being and the child’s relationship with their parents. It is important that you develop a parenting plan with an experienced family law attorney familiar with navigating these emotional and complex issues.  Alison B. Copley and Brett P. Hargaden understand that every family is different, and they will work closely with you to create a parenting plan that is in the child’s best interest.  

Parenting Plans

A Parenting Plan is required in all cases involving timesharing with minor children, even when timesharing is not in dispute. The Parenting Plan must be developed and agreed to by the parents and approved by the court. If the parties cannot agree to a Parenting Plan or if the parents agreed to a plan that is not approved by the court, a Parenting Plan will be established by the court.
Mother Holding Hands of the Child — Sebring, FL — Copley Law Firm
At a minimum, the Parenting Plan must describe in adequate detail:
  • How the parties will share and be responsible for the daily tasks associated with the upbringing of the children, and
  • The timesharing schedule arrangements that specify the time that the minor children will spend with each parent, and
  • A designation of who will be responsible for any and all forms of health care, school-related matters, including the address to be used for school-boundary determination and registration, other activities, and the methods and technologies that the parents will use to communicate with the children.

Working in the Best Interest of the Children

The best interests of the children are the primary consideration in the Parenting Plan. In creating the Parenting Plan, all circumstances between the parents, including their historic relationship, domestic violence, and other factors must be taken into consideration. Determination of the best interests of the children shall be made by evaluating all of the factors affecting the welfare and interest of the particular minor children and the circumstances of that family, as listed in section 61.13(3), Florida Statutes.

Cases Involving Children

Alison B. Copley and Brett P. Hargaden are highly experienced in representing clients in divorce and other family law matters involving both contested and agreed child custody and parenting plan issues. We know these cases can be both highly emotional and profoundly meaningful to our clients and their children, so we work tirelessly to  help our clients make informed decisions. If you are considering filing a divorce, modification of a parenting plan, paternity case, or other family law action involving child custody, we invite you to contact us to schedule a consultation. For over three decades, we have represented clients in Highlands, Polk, and Hardee Counties (as well as other surrounding counties) in divorce and other family law matters involving child custody.  
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