If you’re going through a divorce in Florida and you have children, one of your top concerns is likely their current and future well being. Among other issues is the need to determine child time-sharing arrangements. “Time sharing” is the terminology used in Florida to describe the traditional notion of “child custody.”

Florida courts establish time-sharing arrangements according to the best interests of the children involved. The decision is based primarily on the following factors:

• The parents’ ability and willingness to provide care and support
• The parents’ ability to meet the children’s needs
• The physical, mental and emotional health of the parents
• Any history of abuse or domestic violence on the part of one or both parents
• The living environments, including new partners, of the parents
• The children’s wishes, if they are over 12 years old

In most situations, courts attempt to set up timesharing arrangements that allow both parents to play a significant role in their kids’ lives. One parent is likely to retain primary custody, while the other may visit the children on specified days and times. These plans typically work best when the parents create a timesharing schedule together.

Child custody issues are rarely easy to resolve in a divorce, but working with a skilled family law attorney can help make the process a little easier. Also, it can be very difficult to modify a time sharing arrangement later on, so it’s important to get it right the first time. For the dependable representation you need, consult a respected Daytona Beach divorce lawyer right away.