Child Custody Lawyers in St. Augustine

Supporting Families Through Child Custody Matters in St. Augustine, FL

Child custody matters can affect where your child lives, how time is shared between parents, and who makes important decisions about their upbringing. Understanding the key parts of a custody arrangement can help you prepare for discussions, court proceedings, and decisions involving your child’s best interests.

Key terms to understand include:

• Time-sharing: This determines where a child lives and establishes the schedule for each parent’s time with the child.
• Parental responsibility: This determines which parent, or whether both parents, have the authority to make important decisions about the child’s health care, education, and religious upbringing.

Every family’s circumstances are different, and custody arrangements should reflect the child’s needs and the parents’ situation. At Canan Law, our child custody lawyer in St. Augustine can help you understand your options, navigate the legal process, and work toward an arrangement that supports your child’s best interests.

Let our dedicated child custody attorney in St. Augustine, FL, support you throughout your legal matter. Call (904) 849-2266 to schedule a free consultation. We bring 30+ years of local experience.

Is Florida a Mother State?

No, contrary to popular belief, the father and mother are given the same rights when it comes to child custody regardless of their child’s age or sex. Florida encourages both parents to jointly share in the rights and responsibilities of child rearing — including the child’s education, religious upbringing, medical and detail care — having frequent and continuing contact with both parents after the parents have separated or divorced. However, each circumstance will vary.

Court-Ordered Custody & Parenting Plans

You and your spouse may agree on a custody and parenting plan. However, if you both have a substantial conflict over these areas, the court will decide an appropriate custody arrangement.

The court may designate one parent’s home as the primary residence and afford the other parent frequent and continuing contact. Alternatively, the court may order rotating custody arrangements in which the time spent with each parent is equal.

Types of Child Custody Arrangements

• Sole physical custody: The child primarily lives with one parent, while the other parent has a time-sharing schedule.
• Shared physical custody: The child spends time living with both parents according to an agreed-upon or court-ordered schedule.
• Sole legal custody: One parent has the authority to make major decisions about the child’s education, medical care, and religious upbringing.
• Joint legal custody: Both parents share responsibility for making major decisions about the child’s education, health care, and religious upbringing.

What Do Judges Look for When Determining Custody?

When determining custody, Florida courts focus primarily on the child’s best interests. 

Factors a judge may consider include:

• Consistency and stability: Whether each parent can provide the child with a consistent routine and stable home environment.
• Parental fitness: The mental and physical health and moral fitness of each parent.
• Child’s home, school, and community: The child’s existing home, school, and community relationships and environment.
• Relationship with both parents: Each parent’s willingness and ability to encourage a close and continuing relationship between the child and the other parent.
• Safety concerns: Evidence of sexual violence, child abuse, domestic violence, neglect, or abandonment.
• Primary caregiver: Which parent has primarily provided care for the child.
• Child’s preference: The child’s preference, when the judge determines the child has sufficient maturity and understanding to express a meaningful preference.

As custody decisions depend on the specific facts of each case, it can be helpful to have legal guidance during this time. Our child custody lawyer in St. Augustine can help you understand the factors that may affect your case and prepare for the custody process.

Can Child Custody Be Modified?

Yes. A child custody arrangement can be modified when significant circumstances change, and a modification is in the child’s best interests. 

Common reasons for seeking a modification may include:

• Job changes: A significant change in a parent’s work schedule or employment circumstances may affect the existing parenting plan.
• Relocation: Moving to a different city or area may require changes to the current time-sharing schedule.
• Health issues: A parent's significant physical or mental health changes may affect their ability to follow the existing arrangement.
• Changes in the child’s needs: As children grow, their educational, medical, developmental, or other needs may change and require adjustments to the parenting plan.

Questions About Child Custody in Your Divorce in St. Augustine? Call Us Today.

Contact our St. Augustine child custody lawyer to learn more about the laws and procedures regarding child custody, paternity questions, or arrangements for child support and how they could affect your situation.

Let our St. Augustine child custody attorney handle your matter. Call us at (904) 849-2266, or send us an email online. We assist all of St. Augustine, St. Johns County, and Northeast Florida.