Child Custody & Visitation

Orlando Child Custody and Visitation Lawyer

Child custody and visitation decisions are usually the most important aspects of a divorce proceeding or paternity case. Our entire legal team at the office of Dorothy J. McMichen, P.A. strives to help clients determine custody and visitation schedules that are in the best interests of the children and serve our clients' needs.

Whether you are seeking custody and visitation within the context of a divorce or not, our firm can provide the guidance and information that you need in order to make educated decisions about your case. Our attorneys only practice in the area of family law and have handled numerous cases involving custody and visitation. Our lawyers are skilled at providing advice regarding an award of custody in your particular situation. We encourage clients to resolve custody and visitation matters through negotiation and mediation. Only through reaching a voluntary agreement can clients be a part of the decision making process. If the parties cannot agree, custody and visitation will be decided by the court and the parties will have to live with it whether it works for them or not. In instances where an agreement cannot be reached, our lawyers are skilled and effective at presenting issues and arguments relating to child custody and visitation to the Court in an effort to promote an outcome that meets the best interests of our clients and their children.

In establishing how custody and/or parental responsibilities are to be shared, a court must determine the following factors:

• The primary and secondary residence of the children
• Whether substantial contact or rotating custody is appropriate
• What the visitation schedule will be and
• Shared decision making

Shared Parental Responsibilities

In Florida, shared parental responsibility is not the same as joint custody. The legislature has determined that both parents should be fully involved in the lives of their children. Our firm can explain how shared parental responsibilities may factor into your custody case and how they would affect the lives of your family members. We can also discuss how residential care is determined and how that may impact your current situation.

Though many clients wish to obtain sole custody, or sole parental responsibility, the courts are often hesitant to grant this type of custody request unless specific and extenuating circumstances exist that warrant this type of arrangement.

To learn more about general custody and visitation matters, please see our Child Custody and Visitation Center page.

Contact a Florida child custody and visitation attorney at the office of Dorothy J. McMichen, P.A. to discuss your individual case and needs with a member of our legal team.