Understanding Factors that Affect Child Custody in Florida

 Posted on April 24, 2024 in Child Custody

Contesting, or going to court over, your child custody case is emotionally draining. A Guardian ad Litem might be appointed to help the court understand your family’s unique situation and what kind of arrangement would best serve your children. Florida state law lists some factors that courts should use to decide what custody schedule is in your child’s best interests. If you are going to litigate your child custody case, you need to understand these factors so that you can be prepared for the kinds of questions the judge or Guardian ad Litem will ask. Your Miami, FL child custody attorney can help you understand what each of these factors means and prepare to answer questions.

Child Custody Factors in Florida 

Some of the factors the court will consider when deciding on a child custody arrangement for your family include: 

• Each parent’s ability to cooperatively co-parent - Is each parent willing to foster a relationship between the child and his or her other parent? Will each parent abide by the child custody schedule? Can both parents be reasonable when minor changes or adaptations to the custody arrangement are needed?

• Each parent’s moral fitness - If one parent has a pattern of wrongdoing or setting a bad example, the court will take this into consideration.

• How close together the parents live - Spending a lot of time commuting between each parent’s household can be difficult for children. It might also not be practical for a child who attends school in person to travel long distances frequently.

• How well each parent knows the child - Knowing about your child’s interests, friends, performance in school, medical needs, extracurriculars, and other important parts of his or her life shows how involved a parent is.

• Any evidence of abuse, domestic violence, or neglect - If one parent has carried out violence or abuse toward the child or other parent, the court will be hesitant to give that parent unsupervised time with the child. The same is true if one parent has neglected or endangered the child or any other children.

• The parenting tasks each parent performs - This refers to the childcare tasks each parent performs, like feeding the child, providing discipline, helping the child with homework, getting the child ready for school in the morning, and teaching the child right from wrong.

These are only a few of the many different factors Florida child custody courts look at when creating a custody schedule.

Contact a Miami-Dade County, FL Child Custody Lawyer 

Miami Family Law Group, PLLC is experienced in child custody litigation. Our skilled Miami, FL child custody litigation attorneys will focus on protecting your children and building the strongest case possible on your behalf. Contact us at 305-520-7874 for a complimentary consultation.