Source: https://mygainesvillelawyer.com/top-eleven-things-you-didnt-know-about-child-custody-cases/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 14:15:08+00:00

Document:
Top Eleven Things you didn’t know about Child Custody Cases | Law Office of Alba & Yochim P.A.
The court can order electronic communication between a parent and child, including those via telephone, text message/chat, email, webcam, and video-conferencing, upon considering (1) the child’s best interests; (2) the availability, accessibility, and affordability of communication equipment/technology; (3) each parent’s history of substance abuse or domestic violence; and (4) any other material fact. If it is in the child’s best interest, a rebuttable presumption regarding telephone contact is created, which means that at a very minimum the court will order telephone communications, unless the presumption is rebutted. The court shall allocate expenses for such communications, and may set safeguards or guidelines for communications. Each parent shall furnish the other with access information necessary to facilitate communication. However, electronic communication shall not be used to supplement face-to-face contact with the child. See, Fla. Stat. §61.13003, see also §61.046(5).
As set forth in Florida Statute §61.13(2)(a)(c)(1), it is public policy that ‘each minor child has frequent and continuing contact with both parents…and to encourage that parents share the rights and responsibilities, and joys, of childrearing.’ Consequently, unless a parent presents competent, substantial, and credible evidence showing that time-sharing would be detrimental to the child, the court shall order that parental responsibility be shared by both parents. In some cases a rebuttable presumption of unfitness, or detriment to the child, may exist (see #4), which if not rebutted precludes the court from awarding that parent physical or legal custody.
As a consequence of failing to rebut this presumption, after being advised by the court, the convicted parent may not be granted shared parental responsibility, including time-sharing with the child. However, the convicted parent is not relieved of any obligation to provide financial support. Further, the court shall consider evidence of domestic violence or child abuse as evidence of detriment, regardless of a conviction (or injunction for protection).
An order for equal time-sharing for a minor child does not preclude the court from entering an order for child support of the child, pursuant to Florida Statute §61.13(4)(d)(5). Depending on the circumstances of parties, and nature of the case, a parent may still be required to pay support even if time-sharing is equal, so long as such orders for support are equitable (i.e. considers financial factors of each parent), and are in accordance with child support guidelines, as set forth in §61.30. This provision serves as an ideal example of the discretionary authority permitted to judges in child-related proceedings in Florida.
The designation must be made in writing and provided to the other parent at least 10 working days before the court-ordered period of time-sharing begins. The other parent may object to the designations only on the grounds that the proposed designation is not in the best interests of the child. Parents who cannot agree on time-sharing delegation may request an expedited hearing on the matter.
Parents to a proceeding where a social investigation is ordered by the court, shall bear the costs of the investigation and study, with the exception of persons deemed to be indigent. If a parent has been declared indigent and the court does not have qualified staff to perform the investigation, the court may request that the Department of Children and Families conduct the study.
If the court finds it is in the best interest of the child, the court may appoint a guardian ad litem. A guardian ad litem serves the interests of the child, as opposed to the interests of the parents. In other words, such person acts as next friend of the child, in an investigator or evaluator capacity, but not as attorney or advocate. The court may appoint a guardian ad litem in actions involving: (1) Dissolution of marriage; and/or (2) Creation, approval, modification of a parenting plan. Further, the court must appoint a guardian ad litem in actions involving child abuse, abandonment, or neglect, where such allegations have been verified by the court and determined to be well-founded. See, Fla. Stat. §61.401; see also §§61.401-61.404.
Require that a party post bond or other security in an amount sufficient to serve as a financial deterrent to abduction.

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