Tampa Florida Family Law Blog

Child custody is one of the most difficult aspects of a divorce. It is not easy for two Florida parents to agree on what is best for their children, especially when they are already dealing with the complex emotions that come with the end of a marriage. The holidays can exacerbate these feelings and make it even more difficult to make things work for the sake of the children.

If you are going through a divorce, you may want to give careful consideration to how holiday visitation will work after the process is final. It is beneficial to include this in your custody order, as these details can help you avoid conflict in the future. There are several ways you can ease the stress of this time of year and give your children the ability to enjoy continuity of lifestyle. 

A divorce can be one of the most impactful events in a Floridian's life. There is no denying the complete change that can go into effect for a man or woman who is ending a marriage to go on with their separate life, sometimes, after years of being married. As important as a divorce case is, it is important to avoid mistakes.

A recent news article pointed out some mistakes that men, in particular, make when it comes to divorce cases, but some of the mistakes noted in the article should equally be avoided by women as well. One of the primary mistakes the article points to are the discussions -- and promises -- made between the soon-to-be ex-spouses, both before and during the actual legal proceedings of the divorce case. If, for example, one said they were going to give some asset to the spouse, the promisor better believe they will be held to that promise in the courtroom.

The statistic has been said so much that it is almost common knowledge: half of all marriages end in divorce. That is not a high level of success. But, is that "statistic" actually true anymore? After all, societal norms have been changing quite a bit over recent years, and a new generation is changing how most people approach important turning points in their lives.

So, is the divorce rate really that high in Florida? Well, while Florida, as one of the most populous states in the country, no doubt has a high number of divorce cases filed and concluded each year, the "rate" of divorce is a whole other figure. One effort to analyze divorce rates on a state-by-state basis looked at the rate of divorce per 1,000 married people. Unfortunately, the results bore out this fact: Florida is tied for the eighth-highest rate of divorce in America.

During their divorce, Florida parents want to take steps to ensure that their children do not experience unnecessary complications and emotional stress. For this reason, you and the other parent may be able to set aside your differences and work on a parenting plan that will work for every member of the family. The primary goal in any custody arrangement or parenting plan is to provide the children with security and stability for years to come. 

When drafting your parenting plan, you will need to consider what will actually work best for your children. This can be difficult, especially when you are dealing with the difficult emotions that often come with divorce. It's not always easy, but if you decide to resolve custody issues out of court, it may require you to set these feelings to the side and focus on what will be best long term.