Fort Myers Parenting Plan Lawyers Guiding Families Going Through Divorce Or Breakups
One of the difficult matters of divorce is determining familial arrangements that shouldn’t negatively impact a child. Because Florida has shifted from custody to parental responsibility and timesharing, you need an effective parenting plan that advocates for the best interests of your child.
At Patrick McLain Law, our Florida parenting plan agreement attorneys have more than 20 years of combined experience. They have helped families in Fort Myers and across Lee County and the surrounding area move on from their family law concerns. Whether you are divorcing parents, unmarried parents establishing legal rights or co-parents facing legal issues, you can come to us for help.
What Is A Legally Binding Florida Parenting Plan?
Parenting plans are court-approved, binding documents that dictate how you and the other parent will share responsibilities in raising your child. Creating one is necessary because this is a crucial part of Florida divorce cases.
The courts encourage divorcing parents to draft the plan together. However, if you are facing a contested divorce, this approach may not be suitable. Instead, a judge steps in to decide the terms according to the child’s best interests.
Essential Elements Required In Every Parenting Plan In Lee County And Surrounding Areas
An approved parenting plan should have:
- Timesharing: Outlines the allocation of days a parent spends time with their child
- Decision-making structure: Addresses how parents decide on a child’s healthcare, education, religion and other life events
- Communication: Shows the court-approved methods for talking between parents and children
- Exchange logistics: Tackles the process of moving the child to the designated parent according to the timesharing plan
If you want to learn how to create a court-approved parenting plan, you can seek guidance from us as your timesharing lawyers in Fort Myers.
Developing Parenting Plans For Unmarried Parents In Fort Myers
Under Florida law, an unmarried mother traditionally holds primary parental rights at birth. Establishing paternity allows unmarried fathers to share parental responsibility and timesharing rights. Genetic testing, signing a voluntary acknowledgment or filing a paternity action are common methods that fathers use to show their parentage.
What Happens If Your Co-Parent Refuses To Follow The Court-Approved Parenting Plan?
When courts find that a parent refuses to cooperate with the parenting plan, a judge can impose these remedies:
- Allow the non-violating parent to spend extra time with the child to compensate for lost time
- Require the violating parent to pay for legal costs and reasonable attorney’s fees incurred by the other parent
- Require the violating parent to attend parenting classes
- Hold the non-compliant parent in contempt of court
If your co-parent is showing signs of uncooperative parenting, our attorneys can fight for equal timesharing in Fort Myers.
Do You Need Help With Your Parenting Plan? Call Us Now.
Parenting plans can be overwhelming, but you have our full attention and support. Call 239-737-3735 or submit an online contact form to schedule an appointment.