When you and your spouse decided to divorce, you knew this decision would impact your children. Splitting time between two different households will be an adjustment for them and for you, too. If you and your spouse will be seeking joint custody of your children, one...
Tips to make a supervised visitation more enjoyable
If you're only authorized to have a supervised visitation period with your child, it can be frustrating. You don't feel like you ever get to relax and spend time together because someone else is always looking over your shoulder. The key to making your time count is...
Is parental abduction actually kidnapping?
You and your ex have joint custody of your 3-year-old child. One day, your ex misses the drop-off time. You are annoyed, but you wait it out. Your ex never shows up. Irate, you storm over to his or her apartment the next day. A roommate shrugs and tells you that your...
Joint custody does not stress kids out most, study claims
For years, there has been a prevailing thought that joint custody creates a lot of stress for children, which is why some people oppose it. In essence, because kids live at two homes and have to travel back and forth so much, people assume this elevates their stress...
The difference between parental responsibility and time sharing
When officially ruling in child custody cases, Florida uses a pair of key terms: "Parental responsibility" and "time sharing." Though related, they are very different and it's important for parents to understand exactly what they mean. Parental responsibility has...
Why do parents leave their kids?
You've heard of deadbeat parents, but have you ever really thought about what it means? Parents are actively abandoning children, perhaps after a divorce. Why would they do it? Understanding why this happens is the first step to solving the problem. Below are a few...
Concerns children have about life after divorce
Divorce is often overwhelming for kids. The more information you can provide, the better. While it's natural to keep some things from them -- the reasons for your divorce may not really be fit for the kids -- it's important to focus on their concerns and answer their...
Make a flexible parenting plan that can adapt to your kids
When drafting a parenting plan and child custody agreement, you want to make sure you get time with your children. However, experts warn that you shouldn't make this all about you and your time. It should focus on the kids first -- not your own desires. Recognize that...
3 key factors when planning overnights
You have custody of your kids. Your ex works a lot and was fine with allowing you to retain primary physical custody, though he or she still has legal custody rights. On top of that, you're happy to allow your ex to see the kids for overnight visits. You're just...
Joint legal custody and medical decisions
When it comes to medical decisions, it's important to remember that there are two main parts to child custody: legal custody and physical custody. They're very different, and you should never assume that having one means you have the other. As the name implies,...