In the olden days of English common law, the father automatically kept custody of his children in the case of a child custody disagreement. Fathers held the legal right to have physical custody of their children, including the earnings and labor of their children. The courts of the time believed fathers should retain this right because the fathers -- as the financial rulers of their households -- paid to educate, train and support their children.
Child custody: Who's the primary caretaker?
If you're in the throes of a child custody dispute, you probably know that courts give more weight to the parent considered to be the "primary caretaker." If, for example, there's a disagreement about who the children should live with, the judge will probably rule that they should live with the primary caretakers.
How to determine the best interest of your child
The best interests of your child will be subjective at best, and it will be difficult for the average parent to view those interests objectively. Although your personal opinion matters, if you're litigating your child custody case in court, you will need to understand how a Florida family law court will determine your child's best interests so that you can better argue your case.
Post-divorce parenting: Should you spend time with your ex?
Children often ask their parents whether they'd be willing to spend a "family" day together. Perhaps your child wants to go to a theme park with you or your ex, or maybe your child just wants to do a lunch with everyone sitting around the same table. You might be tempted to give an immediate yes or no answer to this question, and it will all depend on the quality of your post-divorce relationship with your ex.
