Shared Parenting in Florida: What to Expect from the Court

When parents in Florida separate or divorce, one of the most important, and often most emotional, questions is how parenting time, financial support, and assets will be divided. Florida law focuses on what’s best for the children, while also aiming to ensure a fair financial outcome for both parents.

Here’s what you can expect from the court when it comes to shared parenting, child support, and the distribution of assets.

 

1. Shared Parenting and Time-Sharing in Florida

In Florida, the term “shared parenting”(also known as “shared parental responsibility”) means both parents continue to have a role in making important decisions about their child’s life, such as education, health care, and religious upbringing, even after divorce or separation.

The Florida courts presume that shared parental responsibility is in the child’s best interest unless there’s clear evidence to show otherwise (for example, in cases involving abuse or neglect).

 

Time-Sharing (Physical Custody)

The actual schedule of when each parent spends time with the child is called the time-sharing plan. The court encourages parents to create a plan that works for their family, but if they can’t agree, the judge will establish one based on factors such as:

  • Each parent’s ability to meet the child’s needs

  • The stability of each parent’s home environment

  • The child’s relationship with each parent

  • Each parent’s willingness to foster a positive relationship with the other parent

The goal is to ensure children maintain frequent and continuing contact with both parents, when possible.

2. How Child Support Is Determined

Even in cases of shared parenting, one parent may still be required to pay child support. Florida’s Child Support Guidelines consider factors such as:

  • Both parents’ incomes

  • The number of overnights each parent has with the child

  • Health insurance and child care costs

  • The child’s specific needs

If parents share time equally, support may still be owed, especially if one parent earns significantly more than the other. The intent of Florida’s system is to make sure children receive the same level of financial support they would if both parents lived together.

3. Distribution of Assets and Debts

When it comes to dividing property in a Florida divorce, the court follows the rule of equitable distribution. That means assets and debts acquired during the marriage are divided fairly, though not always equally.

Marital Assets May Include:

  • The family home and other real estate

  • Bank accounts and retirement savings

  • Investments and business interests

  • Vehicles, personal property, and household items

Marital Debts May Include:

  • Mortgages and loans

  • Credit card balances

  • Joint financial obligations

The court looks at factors such as each spouse’s contribution to the marriage, economic circumstances, and whether one party wasted or hid assets.

It’s important to note that child support and asset distribution are separate issues, though both play key roles in ensuring fairness and stability for families after divorce.

4. Putting It All Together: What to Expect

In a Florida family court, you can expect the judge to focus on:

  • The child’s best interests above all else

  • Cooperative parenting whenever possible

  • Fair financial outcomes, both in terms of support and property division

Parents who approach the process with realistic expectations and a focus on the child’s well-being tend to reach smoother, less stressful outcomes — whether through negotiation or court order.

Final Thoughts

Shared parenting, child support, and the division of assets are interconnected parts of family law in Florida. Every case is unique, and even small differences — such as income changes or the time-sharing schedule — can affect the outcome.

 

Working with an experienced Florida family law attorney can help ensure your rights are protected, your child’s best interests are prioritized, and the process moves forward as smoothly as possible.