At Trusik Law Firm, a premier divorce and family law attorney in Tallahassee, we are sympathetic to the ways divorce can affect your life. We stay with you every step of the way, answering your questions and providing strategic legal advice and the support you need. You may be concerned about your financial future, the well-being of your children, or your long-term rights. People often feel overwhelmed with the emotional consequences of a contentious family dispute. It’s important to have a compassionate yet aggressive legal representative who will fight to see that your interests are protected.
When a couple marries, it is rarely with the thought that they may someday divorce, unfortunately, life sometimes takes an unexpected turn. If you are contemplating ending your marriage, or you have been served with divorce paperwork, we can help.
Our office has extensive experience in handling uncontested, collaborative and highly contested divorces. We do everything we can to reach a fair settlement that does not involve a lengthy, drawn out court battle, however if an out-of-court settlement is not an option, we will go to trial and fight for your rights.
Time-sharing (Visitation) and Parental Responsibility
The most difficult part of a divorce usually concerns the minor children. Occasionally, the divorcing parents are able to work out the time-sharing schedule and parental responsibility of the minor children. Most times however, the parties are at odds with each other and the minor children end up somewhere in the middle. Either way, you need an experienced attorney on your side to help guide you through the process and protect your rights in court.
Florida no longer supports awarding “custody” to one parent and “visitation” to the other. Courts are now required to establish a parenting plan that governs time-sharing with your children and determines parental responsibility.
A few areas courts focus on a when deciding time-sharing and parental responsibility:
- Which parent is better suited to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing parent/child relationship?
- Which parent will honor the time-sharing schedule?
- Which parent is reasonable regarding changes to the time-sharing schedule?
- Which parent acts on the needs of the child as opposed to their own needs?
- Which parent has been caring for the child?
- Where has the child been living?
- How is the child doing in school?
- Does either parent face mental health issues?
- If the child has sufficient maturity to express a preference, what is the reasonable preference of the child?
- Which parent is more likely to keep the other parent informed?
- Has either parent committed domestic violence or child abuse?
- Has either parent provided false information to the court?
- Does either parent have a problem with drugs or alcohol?
Parenting and custody rights are not based on a model, but on the individual circumstances of each family. To a large extent, custody arrangements are based on work schedules, the relationships between each parent and the child, and ultimately, focusing on the best interests of the child or children. If you are in need of representation on custody/visitation and parental responsibility, contact Trusik Law Firm for immediate legal direction.
Trusik Law Firm will take the time to learn about your family dynamics and prepare a well-developed strategy tailored to meet your needs. Do not make the mistake of trying to do it yourself.
Ms. Trusik is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator, is certified as a Collaborative Divorce Attorney, and is a Guardian Ad Litem for the Second Judicial Circuit.
