This is the next post in my series on when child custody agreements end in our state. My last article explained the fact that Florida child custody agreements end when a child turns eighteen or is emancipated. Many parents operate under a misunderstanding regarding this fact, which can lead to conflict. Having an experienced attorney can help you to fully understand your situation. This article will expand upon the point that one’s child support obligations do not go away until a child is eighteen years old or has graduated from high school. If you require legal assistance then contact my office today to speak with a lawyer.
Florida child custody agreements require child support to be paid until a youth is 18 or has completed their high school education
It is common in Melbourne and other Florida areas for parents to have outdated child custody agreements which they are no longer following. Their last order may have been put in place and the child is now well into high school. For obvious reasons, a visitation schedule that works for a younger child will typically not work for a high school student. Also, one parent may no longer live in Florida. In situations such as these, parents often act as if the child custody order essentially no longer exists. This means that a parent has often not had contact with the child and is not paying support. The parents can then be shocked to find out that the order is still in effect.
Consider the following example. Suppose Mike and Mary gained a child custody order when their child was six years old. Mike was to have weekend visitation and pay child support. The parties followed this arrangement for several years, until three years ago. The child is now seventeen. Mike moved to another state for work and has not seen the child in three years. He also has not been paying child support. Mary makes no effort to have the child contact her father. Under this scenario, Mike may Petition the Court for a new visitation Order. The Court will likely grant visitation which it deems appropriate. Also, the Court will require Mike to catch up on his unpaid child support and to continue paying support while the order is in effect. This is just one example of how the Court may rule in such situations and any outcome will always be determined by the facts of the case.
Melbourne parents should always keep their child custody agreement up to date
An important step to ensuring that there are no unforeseen problems between parents is to always keep their child custody agreement up to date. There are a variety of situations which can require the agreement to be changed. These can include changes in work schedules, one parent moving, unforeseen problems faced by the child, as well as the passage of time itself. An experienced attorney can assist you with assessing your situation and submitting a stipulated revision to your parenting order. Likewise, if the other side is not amenable to a modification, counsel can file a Supplemental Petition with the Court.
If you or a family member are in need of assistance then contact my office today to speak with a Melbourne child custody lawyer. I practice solely in the area of family law and I recognize the serious nature of such issues. I work to provide the highest level of service and my firm will give your case the attention it both needs and deserves. Contact us today. We also service clients in the Brevard County cities of Titusville, Cocoa, Palm Bay, Grant, Valkaria, and Rockledge, as well as in the Indian River County areas of Fellsmere, Sebastian, Vero Beach, Indian River Shores, and Orchid.