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Orlando Sole Child Custody Lawyer
Are you seeking sole custody of your child in Orlando, FL? If so, contact McMichen, Cinami & Demps at (407) 898-2161 for a free consultation. Our experienced Orlando sole child custody lawyers can help you navigate the legal complexities of Florida family law as we seek to protect you and your family.
Our team has over 50 years of combined experience in family law, and we know what it takes to get through even the most complicated custody situations. Going through a divorce is never easy, but things are even more difficult when the custody of your child is at stake. Call us today to let us learn more about your situation and start putting together a winning strategy for your case.
Why Choose McMichen, Cinami & Demps for Help With Sole Child Custody in Orlando?
Cases in which one parent is seeking sole custody can be very emotional. At McMichen, Cinami & Demps, we understand just how difficult these situations can be. Our Orlando family lawyers will be there to help you every step of the way as we aggressively fight to get the best possible outcome for you and your child.
At McMichen, Cinami & Demps, our legal team includes an attorney who is Board Certified in Marital and Family Law, so we know what it takes to win these difficult cases. We have a deep understanding of Florida family law, and we are ready to put our knowledge and experience to work for you.
When you choose our firm, you will get:
- A personalized representation strategy to help you achieve your goals
- The time and attention you deserve during this difficult situation
- A strong advocate who will give you sound legal advice about all your options
Whether you are seeking sole physical custody, sole legal custody, or both in Orlando, Florida, our Orlando sole child custody attorneys are ready to get started helping you. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation and let us go to work for you.
What Is Sole Child Custody?
Child custody is really broken into two separate areas. Legal custody refers to the ability of a parent to make decisions for the child, such as decisions about health care, education, or religion. Physical custody refers to the location where the child spends most of their time.
What Is Parental Responsibility?
In Florida, sole legal custody is now referred to as sole parental responsibility. This means that one parent has all the decision-making authority for the child.
So, that parent gets to decide whether the child participates in extracurricular activities, whether the child will attend church, which school the child will attend, and other important things. When one parent has sole parental responsibility, they have no obligation to consult or inform the other parent when making these decisions.
What Is Time-Sharing?
Physical custody is now called parental time-sharing in Florida. In Florida, the courts always seek to serve the best interests of the child when making custody decisions. The current rebuttable assumption is that a 50/50 time-sharing split is in the best interest of the child.
How Often Is Sole Custody Granted in Florida?
Obtaining sole parental responsibility or sole time-sharing of a child in Florida is very difficult. The courts will not generally block one parent from a child’s life without substantial evidence that this approach would be best for the child.
Instead, the courts are much more likely to set rules and restrictions that protect both the rights of the parents and the child’s best interest.
Getting Sole Custody in Florida
As previously mentioned, custody decisions are based on the best interest of the child. If the parents can agree on a parenting plan, the court will typically approve these agreements and allow the parents to co-parent the child.
If the parents cannot agree, the court will determine a custody arrangement by considering several factors, such as:
- Evidence of domestic violence
- Past evidence of abuse
- The financial situations of both parents
- The mental and physical health of the parents
- The moral fitness of the parents
- The child’s school and community involvement
- The ability of each parent to provide a consistent routine for the child
- The child’s reasonable preferences
- Other relevant factors
One parent may be granted sole parental responsibility only for certain types of decisions.
For example, suppose one parent has religious beliefs against modern medicine, and the child has documented health issues for which they require medication. The other parent might be granted sole parental responsibility for all medical decisions in this case.
When it comes to physical custody, the courts rarely will “cut off” one parent completely from the child. Instead, they might resort to supervised visits, restrictions on overnight visits, or other reasonable limits that still allow the child to have a relationship with both parents.
Contact Our Orlando Sole Child Custody Lawyers Today for a Free Case Evaluation
If you need help fighting for sole custody of your child, contact the experienced team at McMichen, Cinami & Demps today. While sole custody may be difficult to obtain in Florida, it is not impossible. We can also work with you to put a parenting plan in place that helps you achieve your goals and puts the best interests of your child first and foremost.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with an Orlando sole child custody attorney.