Plantation Family Law Blog

Non custodial parents: They don't always visit

On behalf of Kelley Joseph of Law Office of Kelley A. Joseph, P.A. posted in Visitation on Wednesday, June 19, 2019.

As a parent with physical custody of your children, you understand how important it is for them to spend time with your ex-spouse. Unfortunately, just because your ex has visitation rights doesn't necessarily mean they'll spend time with their children.

You may come to find that the noncustodial parent is failing to exercise defined parenting time. Not only does this complicate things from a legal perspective, but it can also make life more difficult on your children.

Does a parenting agreement require court approval?

On behalf of Kelley Joseph of Law Office of Kelley A. Joseph, P.A. posted in Child Custody on Wednesday, June 12, 2019.

Not only will divorce change your life in a number of ways, but it can also impact your relationship with your children. This is why it's so important to create a parenting agreement that you can rely on after your divorce.

With a comprehensive parenting agreement in place, both you and your ex will have a clear idea of what you can and can't do in regards to raising your children. For example, the agreement will outline which parent has physical custody of the children. It also outlines a visitation schedule for the noncustodial parent.

Do you know how to change a custody order?

On behalf of Kelley Joseph of Law Office of Kelley A. Joseph, P.A. posted in Child Custody on Friday, June 7, 2019.

As your children grow and your life changes, your child custody order may no longer work for you and your ex-spouse.

Fortunately, you don't have to struggle with an out-of-date custody order. You can instead modify it to meet the requirements of all parties.

What are the different types of supervised visitation?

On behalf of Kelley Joseph of Law Office of Kelley A. Joseph, P.A. posted in Visitation on Friday, June 7, 2019.

Florida family law judges are responsible for deciding what's in the best interest of a child when making custody decisions. Many aim to institute visitation schedules that will allow children to spend the maximum time possible with both parents. If there's a question over a child's safety, then a judge in Plantation may require for such visits to be supervised.

Parents who've previously engaged in domestic violence, that have a criminal past or problems with substance abuse may also have their sessions supervised. The same may occur if a parent and child have been estranged. Their interaction may be supervised until both are comfortable with one another.

Tips to help your children adjust to divorce

On behalf of Kelley Joseph of Law Office of Kelley A. Joseph, P.A. posted in Child Custody on Thursday, May 16, 2019.

When faced with divorce, you can't help but think that the process will bog you down for months on end. While there's a lot to deal with during this difficult time of your life, it's critical to take the necessary steps to protect both you and your children.

Here are three tips you can follow to help your children adjust to life after divorce:

Maintain stability: Some things will change, but that doesn't mean all stability should go out the window. For example, if you always read to your children at bedtime, make sure you continue to do so after the divorce.
Answer their questions: Your children will have just as many questions as you, so make sure you're available to answer them as they arise. If you continually avoid questions from your children, it'll only complicate things.
Don't put your children in the middle of your divorce: This is a common mistake that can make life miserable on you, your children and your ex-spouse. A common example is telling your children that the divorce was the result of something their other parent did. Even if this is true, there's no reason to put your children in the middle. Let them love both of you equally.

What to do about a violation of a parenting agreement

On behalf of Kelley Joseph of Law Office of Kelley A. Joseph, P.A. posted in Child Custody on Monday, May 13, 2019.

You create a parenting agreement with the idea that it will help you and your ex-spouse better raise your children in the future. Despite your best intentions upfront, things have a way of going wrong as the months and years pass.

If your ex continually violates a court-approved parenting agreement, it's critical to learn more about your legal rights. If you overlook this, time and time again, it could impact you and your children in a number of ways.

How to spend quality time with your children this summer

On behalf of Kelley Joseph of Law Office of Kelley A. Joseph, P.A. posted in Visitation on Tuesday, April 30, 2019.

Even if you don't live with your children, if you have visitation rights, you're still able to spend a good amount of time together. During the summer months, there is no shortage of activities to consider.

Here are five of the best ways to spend quality time with your children this summer:

Take a trip: As long as you don't violate your custody order and discuss the details with your ex-spouse, this is one of the best ways to give your children an experience they'll always remember.
Take a hike: Regardless of where you live, you shouldn't have any problem finding an area to take a hike. If this doesn't work for you, a simple walk or jog around the neighborhood can be just as exciting.
Go on a bike ride: There's nothing children enjoy more than a bike ride, especially one in an area that they don't visit often.
Play sports: From baseball to basketball to golf, there are many sports you can play with your children during the summer months.
Read a book outdoors: There's something about reading outdoors that changes the entire experience. Find a cozy spot on your porch or a local park, sit down with your children and read to them.

What are the most important times in your child's day?

On behalf of Kelley Joseph of Law Office of Kelley A. Joseph, P.A. posted in Visitation on Thursday, April 25, 2019.

When setting up a custody and visitation schedule, it is important to think carefully about exactly what time you want to spend with your child. When can you have the most impact on their growth and development? What time of day is best for your relationship with them? What can you do to create a schedule that, though you do not get to see your child as much as you used to, still helps you be a valuable part of their life?

According to researchers, here are the three times of day that have the greatest impact and are considered the most important in a child's life:

Right after waking up in the morning
Right after getting back from a day at school
Right before going to bed for the night

Study finds that working moms benefit children

On behalf of Kelley Joseph of Law Office of Kelley A. Joseph, P.A. posted in Child Custody on Monday, April 22, 2019.

When you were married, you stayed home with your kids seven days a week. You thought that doing so was best for their growth and development.

After you got divorced, you had to go back into the workforce. It was necessary, but you still worried about how it might impact the kids.

2 ways that child custody decisions are made

On behalf of Kelley Joseph of Law Office of Kelley A. Joseph, P.A. posted in Child Custody on Friday, April 12, 2019.

The divorce process will change you in many ways. From your personal life to your finances, you should prepare for anything and everything that could come your way.

Just as important, you must provide a stable environment for your children during this difficult time. Neglecting to do so can result in a variety of issues, both now and in the future.