Father’s Rights in Florida: What You Need to Know

In the midst of a divorce, you may be experiencing many thoughts, feelings, and emotions. This is especially true when considering your children.

• What if your children are taken away from you?
• What if you only have limited visitation rights?
• What if you face some sort of other, unexpected issue?

Fortunately, many of these factors reflect final consequences of child endangerment and aren't anything you should have to worry about. In the end, the court's job is to act in a way that's best for the welfare and well-being of a child.

But what sorts of factors should you understand about father's rights in Broward County Florida? Read more in this post to find out.

Developing a Parenting Plan

In Florida courts, they adopt what is known as a parenting plan between both parties. The idea of this plan is to divide all responsibilities for a child in a way that everyone is okay with.

With the idea of doing what's best for a child, this means that regular time with both parents is usually viewed as the ideal scenario. Parenting plans work to reflect this idea unless there are additional factors affecting the decision.

Some of the most common items you will see on a parenting plan include the following:

• Payment determinations for particular child expenses
• Communication methods and frequency
• Visitation schedule
• Who makes decisions for the child

Ideally, the goal is to develop as comprehensive a guide as possible to ensure all major areas of a child’s care and well-being are addressed. This also includes what to do if there is a question or another point of confusion/ambiguity in how to decide.

How Visitation Works

One of the most critical features of the parenting plan is the visitation schedule. The plan must put all the requirements, recommendations, and court-ordered visitation aspects into writing.

This comprises all types of visitation information related to the father:

• How often a father can see his child
• The type of access a father will have with his children (e.g., supervised visits)
• Holiday visitation schedules
• Sports or other extracurricular visitations

Visitation rights are important to get right at the start as they are locked into a parenting plan. Once agreed and set forth by the courts, the only way to change them is to go back through the court system.

Information About Child Support

Fathers must also act in some way to provide child support to their kids. This does not always mean monetary compensation to the other parent, although sometimes it does.

In terms of financial support, Florida follows what is known as the ‘income shares’ child support model. This means that parents must pay a percentage of the total child support based on their individual income.

The incomes of both parents are tallied up. From that total, a percentage of the income is designated toward child support.

For example, let's say that a father's income is $60,000/year or $5,000/month and a mother's income is $48,000/year or $4,000/month. The total income between both parents is $108,000/year.

The father's income represents about 56% of the total income, and the mother's represents 44%. That would mean that the father is responsible for 56% of the total child support costs.

It is also important to note that income changes and other factors may impact a child support judgment. You may come to different terms in the parenting plan or make other arrangements.

If another agreement can't be amicably decided, the income shares percentage model is what the courts use.

Medical Records and Appointments

Generally speaking, fathers still retain the right to have access to medical records of their children. It is important to note that this is not always the case, though.

Some medical records – particularly personal or sexual health-related care – can be opted as private for the child or teenager in Florida. The idea behind these privacy laws is to help protect some children from having any issues about their sexuality by needing to clear care through a parent first.

Here are some examples of wellness that can be kept private from parents:

• STD testing and treatment
• Plan B
• Treatment or care after sexual assault
• Medical care related to pregnancies

Furthermore, children do not need a parent's knowledge or consent in the case of emergencies.

Medical Benefits

Depending on what was agreed upon in the parenting plan, a child can be placed under a father's insurance to remain covered. If the child has better coverage or more benefits under another parent’s plan, their coverage can be changed.

Similarly, fathers can still name their children as benefactors for other benefits such as life insurance, social security, etc. These are decided as you see fit and do not have to be adjusted in the case of a divorce.

Protecting Your Rights as a Father in Florida

Much like any other parent, a father has every right to raise concerns or challenge their ex in matters related to their child. If you are facing issues such as ambiguous communication, refusal to release records, or problems with visitation schedules, you can do something about it.

Violations of a parenting plan set forth by the courts help to simplify issues of violation or refusal to comply. Of course, you will also need effective legal counsel within the court system to ensure that your voice is heard.

No matter the situation, you should get in touch with a Broward County attorney today. They can help you understand what to do if you are experiencing problems with a parenting plan.

To learn more or to speak with a representative, get in touch today.