Legal guardianship is when an adult has legal decision-making authority over a minor or another person. The courts will appoint a surrogate decision-maker to make personal and/or financial decisions for a minor or an adult with physical or mental disabilities. Once adjudication is complete, the subject of the guardianship is called a “ward.”
Under Florida law, the court must appoint a guardian for minors in circumstances where both parents die or become incapacitated. Guardianship is only warranted when no other less restrictive alternative, including durable power of attorney (POA), trust, health care proxy, or other form of directive can be found by the court as appropriate. Both voluntary and involuntary guardianships can be petitioned for appointment under Title XLIII Domestic Relations Chapter 744 Guardianship of the Florida Statutes.
If you want to know more about legal guardianship, call Fulmer Law, PA. for a consultation. Even if you do not hire Mr. Fulmer to represent you, the legal advice he/she will provide during your consultation will give you an idea of what you are up against and help you plan for the future.
Visitation is now called time-sharing in the court system. In order to have “time-sharing” with children, parents have to agree on a parenting plan with a time-sharing schedule on their own, through mediation, or by a judge.
If an agreement cannot be made between both parties, a parent can then file a motion and set it for a hearing. Mediation is mandatory, and if it fails then a judge will determine the parenting plan time-sharing schedule.
If you need to know more information or take action to see your child(ren), call Fulmer Law, PA. for a consultation. Even if you do not hire Mr. Fulmer to represent you, the legal advice he/she will provide during your consultation will give you an idea of what you are up against and help you plan for the future.
Under Florida law, typically both parents share parental responsibility for their kids. If they can’t agree, a judge will decide what is in the best interests of the children. When going through a divorce, it is imperative that each parent seek help from a highly qualified and experienced family lawyer to ensure the best outcome for everyone involved.
If you want to know more about child custody, call Fulmer Law, PA. for a consultation. Even if you do not hire Mr. Fulmer to represent you, the legal advice he/she will provide during your consultation will give you an idea of what you are up against and help you plan for the future.
Prepare. Prepare. Prepare. Gather evidence, read the law, and adhere to the rules. The family lawyers and support staff hired to represent you must be primed and ready when it comes to your case. Many lawyers we have faced in the courtroom show up unprepared, giving Fulmer Law, PA an advantage to win your child custody case.
Be actively involved in your children’s lives. This includes their education, medical and healthcare needs, as well as their extracurricular activities. Encourage and promote the child’s relationship with the other parent and be flexible with time-sharing. Be sure to have the necessities needed to care for the child in your home. This includes proper sleeping accommodations, childproofing the home, age-appropriate furniture in their bedrooms, and developmentally appropriate toys and games. It is important to develop a loving and nurturing routine with your children when time-sharing, with regards to play time, homework, meals, and bedtime routines.
If you would like to spend more time with your child, call Fulmer Law, P.A. for a consultation today!
Florida requires parents to attend mediation when dissolution of marriage involves child custody decisions. The goal of mediation is to help parents discuss issues in order to reach an agreement on custody and visitation. This mandatory mediation is designed to hopefully save children from controversial legal battles that last for months on end.
When preparing for child custody mediation, it is imperative to bring documentation of your claims. Our legal team at Fulmer Law, P.A. will assist you in gathering evidence and detailed financial information to support your case. If an agreement cannot be reached, the mediator will make recommendations to the court based on the information presented in the mediation session, from the parents and occasionally the minor children.
Recommendations of the mediator often set the tone and create momentum that can influence the parental responsibility and time-sharing decisions of the Court. It is unlikely that repeated changes to the custody arrangements will be made, as the Court encourages a stable and consistent environment for the children.
Call Fulmer Law, P.A. today and get prepared for your child custody mediation. Never go into mediation without preparation and solid documentation that furthers your case for what you believe is in the best interests of your children.
The answer to this question depends on how full custody is defined. Based on the hundreds of cases we have conducted, most parents refer to “full custody” as the ability to make one-sided decisions on major parenting issues, as well as, the ability to control when and where the other parent will have visitation with their child.
Florida courts will not allow a complete sever of the other parents’ right to see their child, have overnight visits with their child, or have a relationship with their child. Typically, parents share time and have either “equal time sharing” or “majority time sharing” with their children.
It is difficult, but not unheard-of, for a parent to be awarded full or sole custody of a child. In extreme cases, in which a parent suffers from severe and untreated mental health disorders, is actively addicted to drugs/alcohol, and/or in situations where violent acts are committed against the other parent, or child it is possible to be awarded 100% parental responsibility.
First, you will need a superb child custody attorney who believes and supports you. Your family lawyer will help you gather detailed documentation to share your compelling story with a court of law. Fighting for full custody of a child can be an arduous battle. However, when the other parent is unstable, unreliable, on drugs, or simply dangerous, full custody may be the only viable option.
It is important to prioritize your desires and have realistic expectations when petitioning for full custody. At Fulmer Law, PA, it’s our job to help you gather evidence and convince the judge why the other parent is a danger to their child, based on weighing the factors described in Florida Statute 61.13.
If you want to know more about child custody, call Fulmer Law, PA. for a consultation. Even if you do not hire Mr. Fulmer to represent you, the legal advice he/she will provide during your consultation will give you an idea of what you are up against and help you plan for the future.
The State of Florida has replaced custody arrangements and no longer recognizes the term “custody.” What used to be termed “custody” is now called “time-sharing” and “parental responsibility.”
Time-sharing describes the legal guardian status, residency, and care taking responsibilities for the children. In most cases, parents share the responsibility and are awarded “shared parental responsibility” and “time-sharing” with their children.
The court will order a “time-sharing schedule” that is in the best interests of the children, while taking into consideration Florida Statutes on the Dissolution of Marriage; Support; Time Sharing (Title VI Civil Practice and Procedure Chapter 61.13 Dissolution of Marriage; Support; Time-Sharing).
If you want to know more about child custody, call Fulmer Law, PA. for a consultation. Even if you do not hire Mr. Fulmer to represent you, the legal advice he will provide during your consultation will give you an idea of what you are up against and help you plan for the future.