A child custody dispute is one of the most contested issues in divorce proceedings. Even divorcing couples who are able to cooperate on most family law matters might disagree on how they would like to share their children moving forward, especially if they don’t have a pre-divorce agreement in place. A good Pensacola Child Custody Lawyer will help ensure that the best interests of your children are served in a court of law and your parenting rights are protected.
The laws of Florida state that both parents have the right to a close relationship with their children, but that both parents must work together and make decisions in the child’s best interest. Parents must come up with a “time-sharing” or “parenting time” schedule, and a parental responsibility plan that clearly defines how decision-making is going to be shared between the parties. Both parents must also agree on how they will handle visitation or parenting time issues and any conditions attached to those agreements.
Typically, a judge will consider factors such as each parent’s health and safety, the child’s best interests, whether one parent has been abusive, the ability of both parents to care for the child, and if either party is an unfit mother or father. Additionally, a judge will usually order the non-custodial parent to pay child support to the custodial parent. The amount of child support a parent must pay is generally based on their net income, which is defined as all sources of income less taxes, Social Security and Medicare payments, mandatory retirement contributions, union dues, healthcare premiums, and childcare costs.
As a family law attorney who understands the complex nature of child custody cases, Autumn Beck Blackledge can assist with developing parenting plans and handling child visitation and custody disputes in the state of Florida. She can also provide strong representation in court, including presenting evidence and cross-examining witnesses. She can also help clients modify existing child custody arrangements when circumstances change, and enforce court-ordered agreements.
In addition to child custody, the legal team at Lacie Bowden Law handles other family law matters such as spousal and child support, property division, and military pension distribution. Attorney Lacie Bowden is a native of Gulf Breeze, Florida and came from a divorced family, which allows her to relate to her clients and understand their needs. She also offers criminal defense representation.
Located in Pensacola, Florida, The Law Offices of Kimmel & Batson is a family and marital law firm with more than 60 years of combined experience. Its attorneys can assist with divorce and child custody cases, including those that involve high-net-worth assets. They can also help with restraining orders, child support, alimony, and paternity cases. The team also handles family litigation, mediation, and probate matters. They serve clients throughout the area, including Pensacola, Pensacola Bay, Milton, and Fort Walton Beach.
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