Protecting Your Children’s Future
We know that understanding child custody and visitation issues can be an emotionally charged and challenging experience for families in Tampa, Florida. Understanding your rights and responsibilities is important for ensuring the best possible outcomes for your children. Here, we provide a compassionate, informative, and jargon-free information to help you through this process.
When your children are involved, nothing else matters more. A child custody lawyer in Tampa who knows Florida law — and knows how to fight for your family — can make all the difference in how the next chapter of your life unfolds. At Mindi Lasley, P.A., Tampa child custody attorney Mindi Lasley handles these cases with the focus and care they deserve.
Florida does not use the word “custody” the way most people think of it. Courts use parenting plans, time-sharing schedules, and shared parental responsibility. The legal framework is specific, and getting it wrong in the early stages can affect your rights for years.
Mindi has handled hundreds of custody cases — from parents trying to protect their children from an unfit co-parent, to fathers fighting for equal time-sharing, to families navigating relocation disputes. She knows what judges look for and how to build a case that holds up.
How Florida Child Custody Works
Florida courts make all decisions regarding children based on the best interests of the child. The law strongly favors both parents remaining involved in a child’s life unless there is a documented reason otherwise.
The key terms in Florida family law are:
- Parental responsibility — Who makes decisions about the child’s education, healthcare, and religious upbringing. Florida courts typically award shared parental responsibility.
- Time-sharing — The schedule that determines when the child is with each parent. Replaces the old term “visitation.”
- Majority time-sharing — The parent the child lives with most of the time. Replaces the old term “primary residential parent.”
- Parenting plan — A detailed document every case with minor children must have. It outlines the time-sharing schedule and all major decisions affecting the child.
What Goes Into a Florida Parenting Plan
A parenting plan must be highly detailed. Florida courts require it to address:
- Day-to-day time-sharing schedule, including school year and holidays
- Healthcare decisions and medical providers
- Educational decisions and school choice
- Religious upbringing
- Extracurricular activities
- Communication between the child and each parent
- Transportation arrangements
Mindi takes the time to build parenting plans that actually work in real life — not just on paper. She has seen cases where a poorly drafted plan created years of conflict between parents, and she works hard to make sure her clients do not end up in that situation.
Types of Child Custody in Tampa
Florida law recognizes several types of custody arrangements, each with unique aspects and implications:
- Legal Custody: This entails the right to make significant decisions about your child’s upbringing, including education, healthcare, and religious instruction.
- Physical Custody: Refers to the child’s living arrangements and the parent with whom the child primarily resides.
- Sole Custody: One parent holds both legal and physical custody, while the other parent may have limited or no visitation rights.
- Joint Custody: Both parents share legal and/or physical custody, cooperating to make decisions and care for the child.
Factors Considered in Determining Custody
Florida courts prioritize the child’s best interests when determining custody arrangements. Several factors play a role in this decision:
- Parental Fitness: The mental and physical health of each parent.
- Child’s Age and Needs: Consideration of the child’s age, health, and emotional development.
- Parent-Child Relationship: The existing relationship each parent has with the child.
- Parental Ability to Provide: Each parent’s ability to provide a stable home and meet the child’s needs.
- Child’s Preference: Depending on age and maturity, the child’s own wishes may be considered.
Impact of Relocation on Custody
Moving can significantly impact a custody arrangement. If a parent wishes to relocate, the Florida Statutes (Sec. 61.13001) [link to statute](https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2011/61.13001) outline specific procedures and requirements, including providing notice to the other parent and potentially modifying custody agreements.
Establishing a Visitation Schedule
Creating a fair and workable visitation schedule is essential for maintaining healthy parent-child relationships. A typical schedule might include:
- Weekends
- Holidays
- Summer Vacations
- Midweek Visits
Flexibility and mutual agreement between parents are vital to accommodating the child’s needs and parents’ schedules.
Enforcement and Modification of Custody Orders
Custody agreements are legally binding, but circumstances can change. Modifications might be necessary due to changes in employment, relocation, or the child’s needs:
- Enforcement: If a parent fails to comply with the custody order, the other parent can seek legal enforcement through the courts.
- Modification: Changes can be made to custody orders, but require substantial evidence demonstrating a significant change in circumstances.
Contested Custody Cases in Tampa
Not every custody case is straightforward. Some involve allegations of an unfit parent, substance abuse, domestic violence, or a parent attempting to limit the other’s time. These cases require an attorney who will not back down.
One client came to Mindi in the middle of a divorce where the other parent was making it extremely difficult to maintain a relationship with their child. The accusations were false, the pressure was immense, and the stakes were everything. Mindi worked through the evidence, challenged every claim, and secured a time-sharing arrangement that kept the client’s relationship with their child fully intact.
When the situation is serious, having an attorney who has been through difficult custody battles before — and who knows how to win them — matters.
Sole Custody in Florida
True sole custody — where one parent has all decision-making authority — is not easy to obtain in Florida. Courts prefer shared parental responsibility. However, in cases involving abuse, neglect, substance issues, or documented harm to the child, Mindi knows how to build the legal argument for sole responsibility.
Related Practice Areas
- Tampa Parenting Plan Lawyer
- Tampa Child Support Attorney
- Paternity Lawyer Tampa
- Modification Lawyer Tampa
- Tampa Divorce Attorney
- Tampa Family Relocation Attorney
Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Does Florida favor mothers in custody cases? | No. Florida law treats both parents equally. Courts focus solely on the best interests of the child, not the gender of the parent. |
| What is shared parental responsibility? | Both parents share decision-making authority for major decisions. It does not necessarily mean equal time-sharing. |
| Can I get sole custody in Florida? | It is possible but requires significant evidence that shared responsibility would harm the child. |
| What if my co-parent is not following the parenting plan? | You can file a motion for enforcement with the court. An attorney can help you document violations and take action. |
| Can custody be modified after it is set? | Yes, if there is a substantial, material, and unanticipated change in circumstances. See: Modification Lawyer Tampa. |
| What factors does the court use to decide time-sharing? | Courts weigh over 20 factors including each parent’s relationship with the child, willingness to co-parent, stability, and the child’s preferences if age-appropriate. |
Local Resources for Child Custody & Visitation in Tampa
| Resource | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Florida Courts | Official site for information on family law and custody in Florida. | Florida Courts |
| Hillsborough County Clerk of Court | Access to family court documents and resources. | Hillsborough County Clerk of Court |
| Florida Department of Children and Families | Resources for children’s welfare and family support. | Florida Department of Children and Families |
Talk to a Tampa Child Custody Attorney Today
Your relationship with your child is worth protecting. Mindi Lasley, P.A. is ready to help you fight for the outcome your family deserves. Call (813) 873-9047 or visit our contact page to schedule a consultation. The sooner you have the right child custody lawyer in Tampa on your side, the stronger your position.
About Mindi Lasley, P.A.
Mindi Lasley, P.A. is a Tampa family law firm dedicated exclusively to Florida family law. Attorney Mindi Lasley has handled hundreds of custody cases, parenting plan disputes, and contested divorce matters throughout Tampa and Hillsborough County. The firm is located at 1005 N Marion St, Tampa, FL 33602.