South Florida Visitation Attorney
Parental Visitation Rights
In a divorce involving parents, a plan must be created that addresses how minor children will be cared for before the court will approve a settlement. Under state law it is expected that the children will have as much contact as possible with each parent, and any parental responsibilities will be shared by both parties. In some situations, it will be necessary for the children to reside primarily with one parent. When there is a primary time-sharing parent, a visitation schedule is worked out with the other parent to make sure he or she is still able to maintain a close relationship with their children. Drafting custody agreements and visitation schedules is often easier with the help of a South Florida divorce lawyer who can keep discussions on track and work out any compromises that may be needed. If the divorce is contentious and there are irresolvable conflicts, a skilled family lawyer can also protect your interests with proper legal representation.
Are you seeking visitation?
Both parents in a divorce have child custody and visitation rights unless determined otherwise by the court. A judge can deny visitation when it is not in the best interests of the child. This can include situations involving:
- A parental history of child abuse or neglect
- A parent's drug or alcohol addiction
The denial of visitation, even in these circumstances, is rare. Instead, the judge will impose supervised visitation. In a supervised visit, the parent can only see their child when another individual is present. The court will however, prevent a parent from visiting the child for a specific period of time, if circumstances warrant such an order. Once the court approves a visitation schedule, it cannot be arbitrarily changed or cancelled by the other parent.
If you are seeking visitation rights or your ex-spouse is preventing you from seeing your child, contact an attorney at Hager, Schwartz & Ross, P.A. We are a family law firm that will represent your interests in the matter and work to resolve the situation. Our firm is well-versed in custody and visitation laws, and will make sure your parental rights are protected.
Contact a South Florida custody lawyer for dedicated advocacy and assistance with any child custody issue.