Nothing is as important as a father to his children. Unfortunately, there are still stereotypes in our society as to the “roles” of each parent. Florida law recognizes that a dad is capable of being an active parent and our state presumes that the rights of a father should be equal to those of a mother. There are times, however, where one must go to Court in order to enforce these rights. Our Melbourne fathers’ rights attorney handles child custody cases throughout Brevard County. Contact our office today to speak with a lawyer.
Melbourne child custody attorney assisting dads in Brevard County, Florida
Florida law considers the rights of a father to be equal to those of a mother. When the Court is establishing an initial time share arrangement the Judge begins with the premise that the child is entitled to frequent and continuous contact with both parents. This is true regardless of whether the parties were never married or if they are going through a contested divorce. The only requirement for a dad to assert his parental rights is that paternity be established. The Court will only grant one parent a majority time share if it is in the best interests of the child to do so.
When deciding whether a father should have joint custody, or one parent should have a majority of the time share, Florida Courts will consider issues such as:
- The source of any conflict between the parents
- The ability of each parent to to meet the needs of the children
- The relationship between the child and each parent
- The physical and mental health of each parent
- The need to keep sibling children together
- Whether there is a history of domestic violence between the parties
A custody case will begin with one parent filing a Petition with the Court. The other parent will then file a response. Each parent will then have the opportunity to gather evidence which supports their case and the matter will end at a bench trial (meaning that there will be no jury). In addition to issuing a custody order, the Court will also rule on issues such as visitation and child support. The legal process can be complicated and is strongly suggested that you hire an attorney to assist you .
Lindsey Gardner Shneyder is a Melbourne fathers’ rights lawyer handling child custody cases throughout Brevard County. She will use your initial consultation to gain an understanding of the situation and to help know what it is you should expect from the process. She will quickly file any Petitions and necessary Motions with the Court. Lindsey will use discovery to acquire evidence such as financial records, correspondence, medical history, etc. She will ensure that you are prepared for trial and that your rights are protected as the case moves forward. Our lawyer understands the importance of family. She focuses on the law so that you may focus on the future.
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.
Affordable child custody lawyer helping Florida fathers
A father has enough to worry about when his children are involved. Paying for legal representation should not be another cause for concern. Lindsey handles most matters for an affordable flat fee and is able to accept a modified payment plan under certain circumstances. She does so while continuing to provide quality service. This allows you to focus your funds on the most important thing – your family.
Our office also handles matters such as child relocation cases, changes of child custody, child support arrears, and more.