Jacksonville and St. Augustine Visitation Lawyer
For divorce clients with children, determining child custody and visitation rights can be one of the most difficult parts of the process. Our Jacksonville child custody attorney can advocate on your behalf to ensure that, even though the marriage is over, the parent-child relationship remains.
The law office of Beth M. Terry, P.A., delivers aggressive legal services our clients need. Whether you are a mother or father seeking assistance with child custody and visitation, we can help.
In Florida, all parents are required to take classes on the effect of divorce on children. The class encourages parents to develop perspective and foster better decision-making skills.
A Changed Focus in Florida Custody Law
In Florida, the courts previously made a distinction between primary and secondary custody, and between custodial and noncustodial parents. The court recently changed their focus toward recognition of shared responsibilities between parents and maintenance of an ongoing parent-child relationship. Custody is now referred to as a "parenting plan" and visitation is known as a "time sharing schedule."
Parenting Plans and Time Sharing Schedules
Although agreeing with your spouse on custody and visitation issues may be difficult, it is in your children's short- and long-term best interests to try. Courts look favorably on parties who encourage a relationship with the other parent. This includes trying to come to a joint decision about the child's upbringing.
Our St. Augustine visitation attorney works with clients to help them understand the factors that courts examine when making child custody determinations. Parenting plans are more detailed than previous custody orders, and they are tailored to each couple's circumstances. Parenting plans now address a wide variety of issues:
- Visitation rights
- Allocation of decision-making in matters including education, health care and religion
- The role each parent will play in the child's life
In addition to helping clients with initial custody and visitation determinations, we also handle child custody modification and enforcement.
Attorney Beth M. Terry brings assertive, zealous representation to your child custody and visitation case. To schedule your confidential consultation at our Jacksonville, Florida, law firm, call us locally at 904-638-8961 or toll free at 866-726-4608. You may also contact us online.
