Which Time-Sharing Plan is Best for the Kids in Florida?

Figuring out the best time-sharing plan for your kids is an important priority for divorcing spouses. There are many options in Florida, and you might be racking your brain trying to figure out what kind of schedule is in your child’s best interests. Your spouse may also have their own ideas about what’s best for your kids, making this process even more difficult. But is there some kind of consensus about which time-sharing plan is the most beneficial for a child’s well-being? How can you make the right choice for your unique situation?

It’s Always Best to Work Out a Time-Sharing Agreement Outside of Court

First of all, it’s important to understand that any potential disputes with your ex over time-sharing are best handled outside of court. You can do this with the help of your attorneys, and these legal professionals can facilitate effective negotiations on this subject. Handling this matter outside of court will reduce your legal expenses while providing you with greater control over how you organize your family in your post-divorce life. The alternative is a full-blown custody trial, which puts the final decision in the hands of a judge who is not very familiar with your family.

Joint Custody is Best for a Child’s Mental Health

Studies show that joint custody is the best option for a child’s mental health whenever possible. The good news is that this is definitely the norm in Florida. One parent is awarded sole physical custody in rare situations, such as safety concerns or a history of abuse with the other parent. If you want to have sole custody while giving your ex very little time with the children, this is something you might need to consider. Alternatively, your ex might be pursuing sole physical custody with no thought for the children’s mental health. Fortunately, this is the most likely outcome even if parents go to court over custody.

The Best Choice Depends on Your Unique Situation

The best time-sharing arrangement is carefully customized to your unique situation. Therefore, there is no single “best” schedule, although a roughly 50/50 arrangement is best for the child’s mental health. Both spouses may have very specific work schedules. Parents may live very far apart from one another, making frequent trips across Florida unviable.

Schedules are summarized in the following form, with each number representing the number of days one specific parent spends with each child. Popular choices include:

• 2-2-3
• 2-2-5-5
• 3-4-4-3

For parents who live very far apart, it may be best for children to spend longer periods in each household to minimize travel time. But this involves additional issues of the child’s education and ties to a specific community. For this reason, parents who want to increase the chances of spending equal time with their kids should strive to live in the same general area.

Where Can I Find a Qualified, Experienced Divorce Attorney in Trenton?

If you’ve been searching for a Trenton divorce lawyer, look no further than Shochet Law Group. Over the years, we have helped divorcing spouses in Florida with a range of issues — including custody disputes. We know that you want to act in your child’s best interests as you approach a post-divorce family life. With our help, you can create an agreement that serves everyone’s unique needs and requirements. Book a consultation with us today and get started with an action plan based on your unique circumstances.

Sources

1. https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2002/03/custody#:~:text=Children%20in%20joint%20custody%20arrangements,children%20in%20sole%20custody%20arrangements.
2. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/chso.12508#:~:text=The%20results%20in%20Model%201,%3D%20%E2%88%920.29%2C%20p%20%3C%20.

Shochet Law Group

409 N. Main Street
Trenton, FL 32693
(352) 354-4518 or (877) 548-9888
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