Florida Parenting Time Mediation Lawyer

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187 Washington Ave, Suite 2F
Nutley, NJ 07110

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28 Valley Road, Suite 1
Montclair, NJ 07042

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Parenting Time Mediation Attorney in Florida

Confrontations or disputes over your child can be emotionally taxing and upsetting for both the parents and the child involved. When parents separate or divorce, one of the biggest hurdles can be figuring out a schedule that allows the child to split time fairly between both households. If you need assistance negotiating parenting time or if you want to avoid time-consuming and costly litigation in court, a Florida parenting time mediation lawyer can help. 

As a Florida Supreme Court Certified parenting time mediation lawyer, Brad Micklin has over 20 years of experience with family law. Sharing time between New Jersey and Palm Beach, Florida, Brad is here to assist you with your parenting time mediation case. 

When it comes to your child, do not leave decisions to the court system. Only you know the needs and flexibility of your family. Shore 2 Shore Mediation is ready to listen and prepared to help you come to an agreement that suits you and your child’s needs.

What is Parenting Time in Florida?

In July of 2023, Florida passed HB 1301 to establish a basis that it is assumed a 50/50 time split is in the child’s interest when parents are separated or divorced. It also eliminated the need for proof when a parent’s circumstances change unexpectedly. The most important piece of this legislation outlines that, by law, parenting time schedules should consider special circumstances and unique situations of the family, including issues of domestic violence.

The goal of this legislation aligns with the goals at Shore 2 Shore Mediation, seeking a fair and balanced parenting plan while also taking into consideration the needs and desires unique to the child and family. Florida has the sixth-highest divorce rate in the United States at 3.4 divorces per 1,000 women in the state. 

With a large population of divorced and separated families, the need for a mediator who can take time to get to know their clients can help create a fair and balanced parenting time schedule for your child.  

A plan for parenting time in Florida differs from a child custody plan. Where custody can focus on big decisions in a child’s life, such as education, special needs, and religion, parenting time helps to define topics such as:

• Pick up and drop off times
• Schedules for holidays and summer breaks
• Schedule changes due to a planned vacation
• Daycare schedules
• How to handle emergencies

How to Determine What is in the Interest of the Child

The need for a parenting time schedule usually arises in the midst of or after a separation or divorce. This can be an already contentious time, full of uncertainty or stress for yourself and your child. When emotions are running high, the path forward might not seem as clear. If you are trying to determine what is in the interest of your child, consider the following:

• The life stage, age, and health of the child
• The relationship and emotional ties the child has with each parent
• The child’s relationship to their school, friends, and community
• Each parent’s ability to take care of the child
• If there is a history of domestic or child abuse in the home
• If there are any substance abuse or other issues related to either parent that might hinder their ability to care for the child

When the above cannot be determined or agreed upon in parenting time mediation, the parenting time case can be decided in court. To file the necessary forms or to get more information on the Florida courts, the Palm Beach Family Court is located at:

205 N. Dixie Hwy, West
Palm Beach, FL 33401

The team at Shore 2 Shore Mediation is familiar with the local Florida court system. They understand how the courts work and can use this knowledge to avoid any tie-ups that may occur in the process. 

How a Parenting Time Plan Can Help You

There are many benefits to using mediation to reach an agreement on parenting time, but there are also many factors to consider before entering negotiations. Parenting time agreements should:

• Always be in the interest of the child, first and foremost. 
• Allow for the child to have appropriate, fair contact with both parents.
• If there is more than one child in the family, it is typically believed that it is in the siblings’ interests to keep them on the same parenting time schedule. 

A solid, beneficial parenting time plan should include details of the days and times where the child or children will be, on a weekly basis, and the basis on which a switch is agreed to occur. These schedules need to be flexible throughout the year to accommodate summer, when a child might not be in school, as well as summer school hours, and detail how holidays are to be handled. 

The state of Florida does not have a standard parenting time schedule outside of the suggested baseline of a 50/50 split between parents. This leaves ample room for parents to negotiate a schedule that works for their specific family needs.  

Modifying a Parenting Time Schedule 

Not all parenting time schedule mediation cases are for first-time planning. In many cases, parenting time mediation happens when there is a need for modification to an existing parenting time schedule. Modifications are still required to first be in the child’s interest, meaning modifications typically are not allowed simply due to the wishes of one or both of the parents unless they align with the child’s interests.

Hire a Parenting Time Mediation Lawyer

Mediation for parenting time is an effective and cost-saving tool for families in Florida. If this is your first parenting time schedule or you are looking to make modifications due to major life events in your and your child’s life, Brad Micklin is here to mediate on your behalf. 

No judge or courthouse knows your child and their needs as intimately as you do. The Micklin Law Group is here to help your family find a resolution that suits your child’s specific needs. Contact Shore 2 Shore Mediation and hire a parenting time mediation lawyer today.