What is a Standard Child Visitation Schedule in Florida?

If you are a parent going through a divorce, you are likely worried about the effect the breakup will have on your children. For your kids, the breakup may mean living in a new home, going to a new school, and adapting to a new lifestyle. However, it will also mean dividing their time between their two parents. As a parent, you want to do whatever you can to protect your children during this difficult time. One of the best ways to do that is to prepare yourself. Below, one of our child Tampa visitation lawyers explains the standard visitation schedules in Florida.  Visitation is also known as timesharing.

Common Examples of Visitation Schedules 

All families are unique and so, there really is no such thing as a ‘standard’ visitation schedule. Still, family law judges do sometimes have standard visitation schedules they prefer to use in most cases. All family law judges are different, but a lawyer will be familiar with the judges in your area and can advise on how they approach these schedules. Some of the most common types of visitation are as follows:

• 2-2-3
• 2-2-5-5
• 3-4-4-3

The above are all ways to refer to different types of visitation schedules. For instance, the 2-2-3 visitation schedule basically allows the two parents to spend an equal amount of time with their children. One parent spends two days with the child and the other parent will then spend the next two days with the child. The first parent will then spend three days with the child. The next week, this reverses so the other parent has three days with the child.

The 2-2-5-5 schedule is a bit more straightforward with each parent spending two days with the child before each parent spends five days with the child.

The 3-4-4-3 schedule is the first parent spending three days with the child, the second parent spending four days, then the first parent spending four days and the second spending three days and repeat the cycle.

The visitation schedule you create, or that is determined by a judge, will depend on the specific needs of your child and family.  It can be any schedule to which the parents are agreeable and that is in the best interests of the children.

What are the Requirements for Overnight Visitation? 

It can be very difficult to become accustomed to waking up to your child’s face in the morning and then transition to spending overnights without them. For divorcing parents, though, this is usually inevitable.

Many parents think their spouse should not have overnight visitation rights. For example, many mothers believe small infants should not spend overnights away from them. Or, some parents believe children under a certain age should not have overnight visits with parents of the opposite sex.

The law in Florida does not support any of the above positions. The courts are prohibited from denying parents overnight visits with a child solely based on their age or gender. Additionally, while some people have tried to argue their former spouse should not have overnight visitation rights because the child does not have a separate sleeping area in the home, the courts also do not support this. Historically, the courts have found this argument to be too restrictive and vague.

Our Child Visitation Lawyers in Tampa Will Help

You have a lot to think about when going through a divorce and the last thing you want to think about is losing time with your child. At All Family Law Group, P.A., our Tampa child visitation lawyers can help you create a schedule that is fair and that upholds your rights. Call us today at 813-672-1900 or contact us online to request a free consultation and to get the legal help you need.  Se habla Español.

Source:

leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/Sections/0061.13.html