If your marriage is coming to an end, there are many details that you must work out before your divorce is finalized. And if you have children, you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse will need to create an acceptable custody agreement. In Florida, the term time-sharing is used in lieu of visitation and custody. But essentially all of these words and phrases relate to how your child’s time will be divided between you and your former spouse.
The time-sharing schedule is part of your required parenting plan and needs to include a residential schedule which accounts for where the child will reside during typical weekdays and weekends, a summer break schedule and a holiday schedule.
There are a number of things that you should consider when working on the time-sharing schedule, such as:
- A child’s age determines the frequency and length of his or her visits.
- A good schedule is one that allows your child to have regular contact with both you and your ex.
- When more than one child is involved, they will all typically abide by the same schedule.
The state of Florida strongly believes that parents should work together to create an amenable schedule. However, if you and your ex are unable to come up with a satisfactory time-sharing agreement, the court will create a schedule for you.
There are many reasons for you and your ex to put your conflicts aside when crafting a time-sharing schedule. For one thing, you understand your child’s needs better than any family court judge ever could. So, if you and your ex are unable to work together, you may want to have an experienced family law attorney provide some assistance. The attorney can act on your behalf in an effort to help create a schedule that is in your and your child’s best interests.