Tampa Child Custody & Visitation Attorneys

Parenting Plan Basics

Divorced parents sometimes struggle to agree on child custody and visitation, which is now known as parental responsibility regarding decision making and time-sharing as to their time with the children. It is mandatory that a Parenting Plan, which outlines the parties’ time-sharing, as well as parental responsibility, must be filed in any case involving children. The reason the courts mandate parenting plans is to minimize parental disagreements and promote children’s well being after the case is concluded.  Parenting plans are essentially road maps to guide shared custody and parental behavior after a divorce or a paternity action.

For instance, a parenting plan may state that a father and mother share decision making of their children and rotate time-sharing on a weekly basis.  Or one of the parents has one night per week and every other weekend from Friday evening and drop them off at school on Monday morning. It also determines holiday and summer visitation.  Time-sharing can be customized to fit any situation.

If you have questions regarding time-sharing, visitation, custody, decision-making or any issue involving children in your divorce or paternity action, contact us by email or call 813-672-1900 to schedule a free consultation with a knowledgeable and experienced Tampa child custody and visitation lawyer.  We will advise you of the options available to you in your special situation.

Court Intervention

If the parents cannot agree upon the Parenting Plan, then it will require court intervention to order the perimeters of the Parenting Plan, which may not be the best option considering your circumstances and neither party may be happy with it.

Working with a Tampa attorney to establish the perimeters of a Parenting Plan and prepare one that is agreeable to both parents can enable parents to overcome their negative feelings surrounding their divorce or paternity, or at least help them to minimize negative interactions.  If the parties can come to an agreement, that is always the best option both emotionally and financially.

Enforcing Parenting Plans by Law Enforcement

Although the Parenting Plan will be incorporated by reference into your divorce or paternity final judgment, it may be that law enforcement may not willing to enforce the provisions of it and say that it is a civil matter, which is true.  It can, however, be enforced by the court if one or both of the parties are not abiding by its terms.

There are several reasons why law enforcement will not get involved, including, but not limited to:

• Mothers and fathers have the free will to make their own parenting choices, assuming their actions are legal
• Parents typically need to adjust their plans according to changing circumstances
• Officials cannot regulate how two parents interact with each other on an emotional level

Take Advantage of Available Resources

A Tampa parenting plan attorney can provide a wealth of advice regarding child custody and visitation, paternity and parenting plans. If you are a parent considering a divorce or paternity action, consult the experienced Tampa child custody attorneys at All Family Law Group, P.A.  Call 813-672-1900 or email us to schedule a free initial consultation to explore your options.