Parents often know their kids better than anyone else in the world. Even when Florida kids have strong bonds with their friends and siblings, their parents still have the experience of raising them from their first days of life and witnessing all of their triumphs and failures. As such, parents can be the closest thing to experts on their children’s unique wants and needs.
This knowledge can be incredibly important when parents find themselves in the difficult position of negotiating their children’s custody and visitation plans. These plans are often made during divorce proceedings and when parents are challenged to work together to find common ground for the sake of their offspring. With the help of family law attorneys, though, many parents can successfully advocate for plans that support their children’s best interests.
The best interests of children are considered a guiding force behind the custody and visitation plans that courts in Florida approve and promulgate. It is important that children receive plans that meet their unique needs, for as diverse as children are it is impossible for the courts to craft generic custody arrangements that will work for everyone.
Many factors may influence a specific child’s best interests, from their age and education level to their physical, mental, and emotional needs. While some children may benefit from living solely under the roof of one parent and having visitation time with the other, other kids may thrive if they are allowed to share their time amongst each of their parents’ homes.
Parents know how their kids best and what they need. For this reason, they can offer persuasive information and arguments to the courts that are responsible for working out their kids’ custody and visitation plans.
