Clearwater Child Custody Attorney
Your child’s best interests may be the most important issue in your Divorce.
You will always be your child’s parent. No Divorce Decree or custody decision can ever change that.
But if you’re going through a Divorce and you have children, you can’t help but wonder how the Divorce will affect them. Naturally, you want the best situation for them – though you and your spouse might disagree on what that is.
A child custody attorney leads as your legal advocate through the disagreements and to a resolution with a focus on the children’s needs, including all aspects of family law that are relevant to your situation. When facing a divorce or a custody decision for unmarried parents, having an expert family law attorney is crucial to ensure your rights and your children’s best interests are being well represented.
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Call 727-785-2700.
Child Custody — Parental Responsibility and Time-Sharing
When Florida courts are dealing with child custody cases, they now use the legal term “parental responsibility and time-sharing” in legal documents. This represents legal custody and the right to make crucial decisions for the children as well as physical custody or the time that the child will spend with you.
Dean Tsourakis is an experienced child custody attorney that will work with you each step of the way when agreements are constructed to determine parental responsibility and time-sharing. In this time of significant life changes, you and your children deserve a legal advocate that will work diligently on your behalf when it comes to parental responsibility and time-sharing.
Deciding Child Custody
Any custody decisions are decided on the basis of one – and only one – criterion, “what’s in the best interest of the children.” Your spouse may try to convince the court that your child’s interests are best served by living with them instead of you – even if that’s not the case. That is where a family law attorney and child custody expert comes in — to be there for you and your children.
In determining what’s in the best interests of the children, the court looks at several factors:
- The parent’s physical and mental health
- The children’s home, school record, and community
- The moral fitness of the parents
- The amount of time that the children have lived in an environment that is stable and satisfactory and the need/desire to maintain continuity
- The capacity and disposition of each parent to honor the schedule in the time-sharing agreement and to be responsive and reasonable when changes are required
- The capacity and disposition of each parent to encourage and facilitate a close, continuing relationship with the children
- The capacity and disposition of each parent to be informed about the key areas of the children’s lives including their medical care providers, teachers, and friends as well as daily activities and other areas/material things of importance to the children
- Other relevant factors that are specific to parenting plans
Florida courts have the final decision when it comes to determining child custody, but they do take into account the parents’ wishes. If your case involves time-sharing, you will need to submit a comprehensive parenting plan that includes your wishes on time-sharing and parental responsibility. Legal counsel helps with negotiations to get a parenting plan that is acceptable to all parties to bring to the courts. If you have a previously agreed-upon parenting plan, the courts will often not make any changes to the plan.
As a dedicated child custody lawyer in Clearwater, FL, Dean Tsourakis understands the intricate landscape of family law particular to this state and offers a free, confidential consultation to families dealing with a child custody situation.
Contact a Family Law Attorney
As your attorney, I will work diligently to make sure your child’s best interests are strongly represented. And I will do everything I can to bring about an agreeable custody settlement, which is often the most important thing that will help your children cope in this difficult time. Dealing with a divorce and/or child custody situation is life-changing, and with the right legal advisor, you will get the confidence you need to know that you and your child’s needs are being well-served.
Contact Dean G. Tsourakis today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your Child Custody case. My full range of legal services also covers a broad scope of family law, including Divorce, Alimony, and Child Support. When you’re in need of child custody lawyers in Clearwater, FL, I’m here for you and your children.