Child Visitation

Child visitation and child custody are entwined. As part of divorce proceedings, once the best form of child custody is determined, the judge then sets guidelines for visitation. In Florida, it is a matter of public policy to ensure that parents share responsibility for raising children and that minor children see parents often and on a continuing basis after the parents are separated or divorced.

When parents have shared parental responsibility, the preferred form of custody in Florida, one parent is generally designated as the primary residential parent. The secondary parent, or non-primary parent, will have visitation rights, which are either determined by the Court or as the primary and secondary parents have agreed upon. The primary residential parent is obligated to encourage the visitation by the secondary parent and the continued close relationship between the child and the non-residential parent.

The court assesses the needs of a child, weighing the child’s age, maturity, the distance between parents’ residences, whether the child is in school, and, if the child is mature enough, the child’s preferences, to determine the best child custody arrangement and visitation schedule.

Sometimes the court may rule that visitation must be supervised in order to protect the safety and well-being of a child. With supervised visitation, the judge will require the other parent, another adult or professional agent to be present during visitation.

At Carey & Millison, P.A., our family law attorneys regularly assist clients with enforcement and modification of visitation schedules. Please call our office at (813) 874-0081 to arrange an appointment to discuss your child visitation matter.