Legal custody—which is also known as parental responsibility in Florida—is the right to make crucial decisions about the upbringing of a minor child. This includes deciding questions on their education, medical care, and religious practices.

If you have questions about legal custody in Florida, now is the right time to seek out legal counsel. A skilled timesharing attorney can answer your questions and make sure that you are treated fairly by the courts throughout this process.

What is Legal Custody?

Adults with legal custody over a child have the right to make the most pressing decisions in the lives of their kids. One of the most important issues facing parents is the child’s medical needs. A parent with legal custody has the power to determine their course of treatment.

Education is another crucial issue for young people. A parent might decide if a child is going to attend public school or if they are better off pursuing a private option. In addition to medical care and education, this type of custody puts a parent in control of everything from extracurricular activities to religious practices. An attorney in Florida can provide insight into why legal custody matters and how to attain it.

Joint vs. Sole Custody

One of the most important questions for a judge to make during this process is whether parental responsibility should be split between both parties, or if a single parent will have the power to make these choices on their own.

As the name suggests, sole custody means only one parent enjoys these rights regarding their minor child. They do not have to consider the other parent’s preferences or wishes when they choose their child’s schools or doctors, for example.

The Florida courts typically prefer joint legal custody in order to allow both parties to foster a relationship with the child. This means the parents are required to work together to make these decisions. In order to award sole custody, there will generally need to be evidence that giving one party a share of decision-making power is not in the best interest of the child.

Legal vs. Physical Custody

In Florida, legal child custody is one of two different sets of rights awarded to parents and guardians. The second—physical custody—is distinct. Where legal custody is about the right to make decisions on how a child is raised, physical custody is the matter of where a juvenile lives. It is possible for the child to stay at one parent’s home or split their time between two residences.

It is worth remembering that while the courts have the power to make these decisions, they have the option to jointly grant some types of custody while giving another parent sole custody in other situations. For example, it is not uncommon for a judge to grant one parent sole physical custody while ordering joint legal custody over a shared child.

Discuss Legal Child Custody with a Florida Attorney Today

If you are facing child custody or divorce proceedings, you have the right to speak with legal counsel and keep some control over the upbringing of your child. An attorney can answer your questions about legal child custody in Florida. With our help, you could ensure you have the right to make important choices on behalf of your children. Call right away for your free case evaluation with The Florida Probate & Family Law Firm.

The Florida Probate & Family Law Firm N/a
The Florida Probate & Family Law Firm N/a
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