Divorce is a tough enough matter without having to involve children or child custody. While dividing up property and setting out alimony payments can be contentious topics, they generally pale in comparison to the matter of child custody. While Florida law does not officially recognize the concept of custody when it comes to children in a divorce, they do use a similar term known as time-sharing. When determining the time-sharing schedule between parents, the court, or the parents involved, will decide how much time a parent will spend with a child. While courts are generally in favor of an equal time-sharing schedule, under the new proposed legislation, there may be less choice in the matter. In addition, the new legislation brings changes to the laws regulating alimony.
Florida Time-Sharing
In most jurisdictions, the matter of who gets to spend time with the child, and how much, is referred to as child custody. This is typically divided into two forms of custody – physical custody and legal custody. Physical custody allows a parent to spend a specific amount of time with the child, whereas legal custody allows the parent to make decisions that affect the child’s life, such as which school they go to and what medical treatment they will receive. In Florida, however, the laws refer to time-sharing and parental responsibility. While these terms are different, they are similar in application. Time-sharing essentially refers to how much time a parent will spend with the child under the parenting plan that is set out by either the court or the parents. Above all else, however, the decision of time-sharing is based on the best interests of the child.
While the court is seeking to divide the time between parents, it is the public policy of Florida that each minor child has frequent and continuing contact with each parent after the divorce or separation of the parents. While this is the general aim of courts in Florida, the law also acknowledges that there are situations in which spending an equal amount of time with each parent may not be in the best interests of the child. Under these situations, courts may provide one parent with a greater time-sharing responsibility than another.
Florida Alimony
The matter of alimony concerns support payments made by one spouse to another. Typically, these payments will be temporary in nature and will be based on a number of factors such as the earning capabilities of both parties and the length of the marriage. Currently, there are five forms of alimony recognized in Florida, which include:
- Temporary Alimony: Alimony that is applied only during divorce proceedings
- Bridge-the-Gap Alimony: Alimony awarded to assist with identifiable, short-term needs, such as living expenses. This form of alimony begins on the date of the judgment and is capped at two years.
- Rehabilitative Alimony: Alimony awarded to assist with a rehabilitative plan that will allow a spouse to establish the capacity to support himself.
- Durational Alimony: Alimony awarded to provide economic assistance to a party to a set period of time. This is only awarded if a court finds that an award of permanent alimony is inappropriate.
- Permanent Alimony: Alimony aimed at allowing a spouse to meet the needs and necessities of life as they were established throughout the marriage.
While the laws regarding time-sharing and alimony can seem extensive, there are always changes that can be made.
Changes Proposed
Under the bill, SB 250, which will be considered during the 2016 Senate session, there are several proposed changes to the laws regarding child custody and alimony. While this bill does propose changes, there is no certainty that this bill will be passed.
Time-sharing
One of the biggest changes that is proposed within this bill is in regards to time-sharing. Under this bill, an equal time-sharing schedule would be presumed to be in the best interests of the child. As a result, an equal time-sharing plan would be the default form of time-sharing unless parties agree to a different schedule in a separation agreement. While there is a presumption in favor of equal time-sharing within the bill, it also provides a way for the presumption to be overcome. In determining whether the presumption in favor of equal time-sharing should be overcome, courts should then evaluate all of the evidence affecting the welfare of the child, including, but not limited to:
- The anticipated division of parental responsibilities after litigation
- The demonstrated ability and capacity of each parent to determine, consider, and act upon the needs of the child as opposed to the needs or desires of the parent
- The length of time the child has lived in a stable environment and the desirability of maintaining that environment
- The moral fitness of the parents
- The mental and physical health of the parents, and
- The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to be involved in the child’s school and extracurricular activities.
While the bill uses similar wording as the current law’s determination of the best interests of the child, these factors are only to be considered in order to overcome the presumption of an equal time-sharing schedule. As such, in many cases, parents may be forced into a timesharing schedule that may not work for them simply because they did not have enough evidence to overcome the presumption in favor of an equal time-sharing schedule.
Alimony
How Florida courts deal with time-sharing matters is not the only change proposed by the new bill. One of the biggest changes proposed involves a complete reworking of the alimony system. Under the new bill, courts would base alimony awards not on specific needs of the parties, but on the length of the marriage. Courts would consider a number of factors, including the financial resources of the payor and recipient of spousal support, but the overall result is a simplified alimony system.