Fort Lauderdale Family Law Blog

Judges in child custody cases consider the capacity and disposition of each parent to protect the child from the ongoing litigation as demonstrated by not discussing the litigation with the child, not sharing documents or electronic media related to the litigation with the child, and refraining from disparaging comments about the other parent to the child.

It is natural to be bitter with the other parent during your child custody case, to feel anger, resentment and betrayal. It is often difficult to hold yourself together and especially to keep your child away from the hostility. It appears that too many parents bad mouth the other parent either to the child or to someone else in the presence of the child. Although you may be going through a difficult time, such behavior is harmful to your child. Your child is made up of both you and the other parent and likely loves both of his or her parents. Making such statements in front of your child often places him or her in a loyalty bind that they should choose one parent and also causes unnecessary stress. This is detrimental to a child and studies have shown that these children are more likely to experience anxiety, depression and substance abuse.

Judges in Florida need to consider the demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to participate and be involved in the child's school and extracurricular activities when making a child custody determination.

If your child attends school in Broward County, Florida to become a parent volunteer in your child's classroom, go online to http://browardschools.com/getinvolved/Volunteer-Services and look for the top right button to apply online. The website also includes information pertaining to volunteer opportunities, requirements for security clearances and provides the contact telephone number, 754-321-2300 if you have any questions. The website to become a classroom volunteer if your child attends a Palm Beach County School is https://www.palmbeachschools.org/volunteers/ and the telephone contact numbers listed on the website are 561-434-8789 and 561-434-8771.

There are many private schools such as Pine Crest School (https://www.pinecrest.edu/page/giving/getting-involved) that encourages parent volunteers. If your child attends private school, contact your school to obtain more information to become a parent volunteer.

Child Custody Factor #14: Evidence that either parent has knowingly provided false information to the court regarding any prior or pending action regarding domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, child abandonment, or child neglect.

There are divorce cases where one parent desires to remove the other parent from the household while they are going through the divorce process. Since both parents have a right to continue residing in their mutual household, some parents file a petition for an injunction for domestic violence with false information. 

Child Custody Factor #13. Divorce and paternity judges consider the demonstrated capacity of each parent to communicate with and keep the other parent informed of issues and activities regarding the minor child, and the willingness of each parent to adopt a unified front of all major issues when dealing with the child when making a child custody determination.