Adoptions
One of the happier areas of a family law practice is adoption. Parents who want and need children build their families by taking in a child born of other parents. When an adoption is finalized, family trees are permanently changed. The adopted child has all the same rights and privileges in the adoptive family that a biological child does.
Private Adoptions and Stepparent Adoptions
Adoptions can come in several different forms. These include: identifying a child for private adoption; strengthening your blended family through step-parent adoption. To begin the legal process of adoption, contact an experienced adoption lawyer.
The Farrar Law Firm, we handle a wide range of domestic matters involving all aspects of family law (child support, child custody. We handle of all aspect of an adoption, including:
- Termination of parental rights of biological parents, whether voluntarily or by determination of the courts that they are unfit parents
- Confirmation of the courts that the adoption is in the best interests of the child
In the Best Interests of the Child
Clients of the Farrar Law Firm rely on our family law lawyers to apply the law to their individual circumstances skillfully, efficiently and with their best interests in mind at all times. We place a high priority on making sure that our clients understand the legal processes and procedures which will have a lasting impact on their families.
We want to assist you in growing your family through adoption with the reassurance that the adoption will not be reversed. Contact one of our family law attorneys to schedule a consultation (850) 434-8904 regarding your domestic legal issue such as adoption.
Child Custody
Child Custody Lawyers Serving Pensacola, Florida
Our law firm is a well-established family law practice with extensive experience handling complex child custody and visitation matters for Pensacola and Milton clients. Contact our family law attorneys to schedule a free initial consultation regarding matters such as paternity and parentage determination, child custody for unmarried parents, child removal (move away), custody disputes, and grandparent's rights.
Child Custody and Visitation - An Overview
Parents who are divorcing have much to consider. Uppermost in their minds is often child custody. Child custody and visitation/parenting time can come in many forms. Joint custody and sole custody; legal custody and physical custody; custody evaluations and modifications: all are terms with which a divorcing parent will become familiar. Knowledgeable advice and skilled representation from an experienced family law attorney can assist you in your pursuit of a fair custody arrangement.
Creating Parenting Plans that Work
A parenting plan is an agreement between parents who are either divorced/divorcing or never married, and it outlines the custody of their children. It takes into account arrangements such as who has the children on which days; who makes major decisions about the children's education, health, etc.; and what to do if any party's situation significantly changes. Parents who agree on a parenting plan rather than let the court decide are more likely to comply with custody arrangements.
Sitting down with the spouse you are divorcing to work out a parenting plan may seem like the last thing you want to do, but this approach holds many advantages. You are the people who know your children best: their needs, their schedules and their preferences. By working together to create a parenting plan that satisfies the needs of your new family structure, you will avoid the possibility of a court's less nuanced solution. A court can only know what you tell it about your family's particularities, but you and your spouse are already exceptionally familiar with the territory. A family law attorney can help you create a plan that is right for you and your family.
Divorce Education
Each year, about 1 million American children see their families changed through divorce. The ongoing health and mental well-being of these children often depends upon how their parents interact following the end of the marriage. Our experienced family law attorney can inform, guide and support you throughout the divorce and custody process.
Custody and Visitation Dos and Don'ts
One thing divorce does not change is your being a parent. Whether you develop a traditional visitation schedule or a flexible co-parenting plan, whether the arrangement is temporary or permanent, you can help make the time you spend with your children happy and productive. When questions regarding custody and visitation arise, an experienced family law attorney is the ideal source for competent counsel.
Custody Evaluations: What You Should Know
If you and your former spouse have been unable to reach an agreement regarding child custody, the family court judge deciding your case may order a custody evaluation. A custody evaluation is a process in which a mental health professional, usually a psychologist, evaluates you, your children and your spouse in order to make a custody and visitation recommendation to the court. Courts tend to give considerable weight to the recommendations of the evaluator. A family law attorney can explain custody evaluations and answer your child custody questions.
Child Support
Family Law Attorneys Serving Clients in Pensacola and Milton, Florida.
In Pensacola Florida child support is usually paid by the non-custodial parent to the custodial parent for the support and education of the children. The court may also order the non-custodial parent to pay a portion of the child’s health care expenses not covered by insurance and to pay reasonable child care expenses.
Our family law attorneys can help you understand Florida child support law and how it will affect you and your family. We represent men and women who need help:
- Obtaining an order for child support in cases involving children
- Obtaining a post-judgment modification of child support agreements when there has been a significant change of financial circumstances for either parent
- With child support enforcement when your ex-spouse is delinquency in support payments. For more information read our Deadbeat Parent Project
Florida Child Support Guidelines
The Family Law courts in Pensacola and Milton Florida determines child support payments by using the Child Support Guidelines. The amount of support is based on the income of the non-custodial parent. The percentages are as follows:
Number of Children Percentage of Supporting Party's Net Income 1 20% 2 28% 3 32% 4 40% 5 45% 6 or more 50%
In child support matters net income is calculated as: All income is minus state and federal taxes, Social Security and Medicare payments, mandatory retirement contributions, union dues, healthcare premiums, and prior child support obligations.
Child support stops when a child reaches the age of 19, or earlier if the child becomes emancipated. Payments may continue beyond the age of 19 if the child pursues post-secondary education or remains dependent because of illness or disability.
The family law attorneys at the Farrar Law Firm can provide experienced legal representation in the child support process, or to modify an existing agreement, contact us at (850) 434-8904.
Child Visitation
Protecting Your Rights to Visitation with Your Child Pensacola Child Custody Lawyers
Visitation agreements establish a court enforced schedule for children to spend time with former spouse and parents. A thorough agreement will be more effective in minimizing conflicts between parents while ensuring a child maintains a positive relationship with both parents.
At the Pensacola law office of the Farrar Law Firm, our child custody lawyers help their clients achieve favorable custody and visitation agreements in negotiations or in Escambia and Santa Rosa family court. For more than 20 years, we've been providing effective and sensitive legal counsel to help families develop visitation plans that meet the best interest of their child. Minimizing Visitation Problems
During the highly emotional period surrounding a divorce, or even after the birth of a child outside a marriage, it can be hard for parents to talk with each other. And yet many important decisions need to be made. With the help of one of our experienced family law attorneys, parents can often arrive at effective visitation agreements to guide daily life and prevent conflicts. When parents are unable to reach agreement, we can take the matter to Illinois family court for a judge to decide.
Handling Problems when they Develop
There are several types of visitation problems that commonly occur:
- A child or a parent's schedule changes, making the existing agreement unworkable
- The parents have an "informal" agreement and when one parent starts breaking that agreement, the other has no legal recourse
- Parents vent their frustration with the other parent by ignoring or abusing their visitation agreement
If you are experiencing a problem with your existing child custody agreement, we can help. We handle modifications of existing visitation agreements and can help with enforcement of court orders so your time with your child is protected. For aggressive and experienced family law attorneys contact us today at (850) 434-8904.
Grandparent's Rights
Experienced Family Lawyers Helping Grandparents and Grandchildren
In Florida, a grandparent's right to visit a grandchild exists only through their relationship with their son or daughter, the parent of their grandchild. The parent of the child controls what, if any, time the grandparents may spend with the child.
It is assumed that the parent will protect the relationship between the grandchild and the grandparent. If the parent cannot protect that relationship because the parent is disabled, deceased, incarcerated or legally unavailable, the grandparents can seek reasonable visitation from the other parent. They can seek the amount of visitation they would have had if the parent (their son or daughter) had been available to protect the grandparent-grandchild relationship.
At our Pensacola Law Firm, no matter which side you are on one of our grandparent rights attorney can help you whether you need assistance as a grandparent seeking visitation, as well as parents seeking to prevent or limit visitation of the grandparents. This legal action is taken when the parents feel it was not in the best interest of the child to have contact with the grandparents. For more than 20 years, our child custody lawyers have been providing experience and compassionate effective legal counsel to families in the Pensacola and Milton area through our family law practice.
Grandparent Custody of a Grandchild
In society today more grandparents have a history of being the primary caregiver for an extended period of time. The courts in family court in Escambia and Santa Rosa have in previous cases when they felt it was in best interest of the child to allow the child to continue to reside with the grandparent rather than be transferred to the parent .
Paternity and Parentage Law in Pensacola
Establishing paternity, known as parentage under Florida law, is a crucial first step in ensuring that a child receives financial support and both the mothers and father's rights and role in their child's life are protected.
At the Pensacola, Florida law office of Farrar Law Firm our family law attorneys assist fathers, mothers, grandparents and children in parentage, child custody and child support matters. For more than 20 years, we've been providing sensitive and effective legal counsel to help parents meet the best interest of their child. To learn more regarding paternity issues and addressing the issues of visitation and child support contact one of our family law attorneys to learn your legal rights. Where Do You Begin
- DNA testing is the first step in establishing parentage. It's a simple test that can determine paternity with a high degree of accuracy. Our legal staff can help you get the DNA testing done.
- Fathers can also voluntarily acknowledge paternity without the requirement for DNA testing. If a father does so, by signing a form, he can be held liable for child support and can seek custody or visitation. However, later he cannot later disavow paternity.
We help mothers with paternity lawsuits to get testing to resolve paternity disputes. If you have questions regarding proof of parentage or paternity testing, please call our Illinois parentage testing lawyer. Parentage and Adoption
The Florida Department of Health created the Putative Father Registry to improve the process of notifying a biological father of a pending adoption proceeding. Fathers who want to establish the paternity of their child can register as a father on this site.
The Putative Father Registry protects fathers who do not want to lose their parental rights in an adoption. It also protects prospective adoptive parents from an adoption dispute if a biological father has not received proper notification or consented to the adoption.
For experienced legal representation in establishing paternity, answers to questions about adoption, or any other legal matter involving children, contact our Pensacola law offices to schedule a free initial consultation (850) 434-8904.
Shared Parental Responsibility Overview
Shared parental responsibility is when both parents have been given shared parental responsibility. f in your case there is a court order that directly or indirectly conflicts with any provision of this Statement you MUST obey that court order unless or until the court expressly instructs you to do otherwise.
If the courts order shared parental responsibility this mean both parents are to abide by the following guidelines:
- Both parents shall communicate so that major decisions that affect the child shall be made in consultation with each other. Said decisions include, but are not limited to, education, discipline, religion, medical, and the general parenting of the child.
- Each parent shall diligently remember to encourage and promote, between the other parent and child, good relations, love and affection, spending time with and giving attention to the other parent when that parent has the child. Neither parent shall obstruct, impede nor interfere with the other parents’ right to associate with and enjoy the company of the minor child unless there is a court order that requires such behavior.
- Each parent shall have access to records and information about the minor child including, but not limited to, medical, dental and school records. Each parent, where possible shall independently obtain this information. When this information is not readily available to the other parent each parent is encouraged to obtain and share this information with the other parent. If there is a cost of obtaining information for the other parent that parent must pay the cost to the other parent before that parent has a duty to obtain the information.
- Neither parent shall in the presence of or around the child make any disparaging remarks about the other parent or call the other parent by an obnoxious or offensive name, use slang or curse words when referring to the other parent, or ask the child about the other parent’s private life. Any feelings of ill will, dislike, hatred, lack of respect, or anger held by one parent against the other or held by both parents, shall not be exhibited in the presence of or around the child. The relationship between the parents shall be as respectful and courteous as possible, when dealing with matters relating to the child.
- Each parent has a duty to communicate directly with the child concerning his or her relationship with the child to the extent warranted by the child’s age and maturity. Neither parent can expect the other parent to act as a "go between" or "buffer" between the other parent and the child. For example, if parenting time is missed or changed by a parent and the child asks why, that parent should discuss this with the child.
- Both parents shall be entitled to participate in and attend activities in which the child is involved, such as religious activities, school programs, sports events and other activities and important school and social events in which the child participates. Each parent has the duty to independently obtain knowledge of and information about these events. If information is exclusively or uniquely known to one parent, then that parent has the duty to timely inform the other parent, within a reasonable period of time before the event.
- The child’s legal surname (last name) shall not be changed except by court order. The child shall be referred to by the child’s legal surname in all proceedings (including but not limited to: school, medical, religious, day care records, etc.) and occasions (including but not limited to social events, religious events, school activities, family gatherings, at home, work or play). While legal stepparents often participate significantly in the life of the child and bonds of love and affection are formed, enjoyed and encouraged, each parent must remember that the stepparent is NOT to overshadow or displace the role of the other parent in the child’s life. While it is acceptable for the child to use a respectful name commonly associated with the role of a parent when talking to or about the stepparent, that name shall not replace the name of "Mother" or "Father" (or common derivative, e.g. mom, dad) used by the child to refer to the child’s parents.
- The PRP has a duty to discuss with the SRP the advantages or disadvantages of all major decisions regarding the child and to work together to reach a joint decision. For example, this duty would include an obligation to discuss a decision to remove a child from public school to enroll the child in private school. It would not include a decision to have a child’s bangs trimmed.
- The PRP has the responsibility to offer to the SRP the opportunity to care for the child, whenever reasonably possible, when the PRP is away due to work or other obligations. That is, the SRP shall have a right, superior to that of all third parties, to care for the child in the PRP’s absence, in accordance with the Standard Parenting Schedule (see paragraph K.).
Shared Parental Schedule
If you have been ordered or have agreed to share parental responsibility for their minor child(ren), what guidelines will I be required to follow? Unless other terms or provisions are specified in the Court’s judgment or orders in this proceeding or, if approved by the Court, in the agreement of the parties, shared parenting means that:
- Thanksgiving Holiday: Thanksgiving holiday begins from the time school recesses, or one (1) hour after school recesses (the one 1 hour does not apply if the SRP supplies all clothing, accessories, etc.) or it starts otherwise at 6:00 p.m. if due to work related reasons the SRP is unable to start parenting time after school recesses. Visitation ends the following Monday morning when the child is taken to school.
- Christmas Vacation: The Christmas vacation period shall be divided equally in accordance with the child’s school Christmas vacation period. Christmas vacation shall start at the time school recesses, or one (1) hour after school recesses (the one 1 hour does not apply if the SRP supplies all clothing, accessories, etc.) or it starts otherwise at 6:00 p.m. if due to work related reasons the SRP is unable to start parenting time after school recesses, and shall conclude on the day school reconvenes following Christmas vacation. The SRP shall have the child for the entire second half of this vacation/visitation period in odd-numbered years. In even-numbered years, the SRP shall have the child the first half of this Christmas period.
- Easter: Easter often falls within Spring Break vacation. In the event it does not, then the SRP shall have the child on Easter from 8:00 a.m. through 9:00 a.m. Monday morning during odd-numbered years, and the PRP during even-numbered years. If Easter falls within the Spring Break vacation period, then parenting time shall be pursuant to Paragraph 3 (D) below.
- Spring Break: Spring Break will be divided equally between the parents, with the SRP having the child the first (1st) one-half (1/2) of that vacation period in odd-numbered years. In even-numbered years, the SRP shall have the second (2nd) one-half (1/2) of that vacation period. Spring Break parenting time starts from the time school recesses, or one (1) hour after school recesses (the one 1 hour does not apply if the SRP supplies all clothing, accessories, etc.) or it starts otherwise at 6:00 p.m. if due to work related reasons the SRP is unable to start parenting time after school recesses. Spring Break concludes when the child is taken to school on the first (1st) day that school reconvenes following Spring Break.
- Fall Break: In the event the child’s school elects to have a Fall Break, the Fall Break shall be divided equally between each parent. The PRP shall exercise the first (1st) one-half (½) of Fall Break each year, and the SRP shall exercise the second (2nd) one-half (½) of Fall Break. Fall Break parenting time shall commence from the time school recesses, or one (1) hour after school recesses (the one 1 hour does not apply if the SRP supplies all clothing, accessories, etc.) or it starts otherwise at 6:00 p.m. if due to work related reasons the SRP is unable to start parenting time after school recesses and shall conclude when the child is taken to school on the first (1st) day that school reconvenes following Fall Break.
- Birthdays: In odd-numbered years, the child shall celebrate his or her birthday at the home of the SRP. In even-numbered years, the child shall celebrate his or her birthday at the home of the PRP. If the child attends school, parenting time shall commence from the time school recesses, or one (1) hour after school recesses (the one 1 hour does not apply if the SRP supplies all clothing, accessories, etc.) or it starts otherwise at 6:00 p.m. if due to work related reasons the SRP is unable to start parenting time after school recesses and shall conclude when the child is returned to school, or by 9:00 a.m. to the other parent’s residence, or day care (if applicable) the following morning. If the birthday falls on a weekend, it will be from 8:00 a.m. through 6:00 p.m. When appropriate, the parent holding a birthday for the child may wish to consider inviting the other parent to the child’s party. If the parties have more than one (1) child, all children between the parties shall enjoy their sibling’s birthday party. If the child is not of school age, that child can be picked up as early as noon, if a parent’s schedule permits for exercising birthday visitation.
- Summers: The SRP shall have parenting time the first (1st) one-half (1/2) of summer break visitation during odd-numbered years, and the second (2nd) one-half (1/2) during even-numbered years. The PRP shall have the same weekday and weekend visitation, as well as communication rights, during the summer as the SRP has during the year, except that each parent has a right to have the child for uninterrupted parenting time for a maximum of two (2) weeks or longer, if the parties otherwise agree in writing. The uninterrupted parenting time shall occur during that parent’s part of summer parenting time unless otherwise agreed in writing. Each party should attempt, when possible, to give the other party as much advance notice of when they will be exercising extended shared parenting during the summer. Any period of uninterrupted shared parenting shall not conflict with any holiday or birthday visitation unless the parties otherwise agree in writing. The summer break parenting time shall commence from the time school recesses, or one (1) hour after school recesses (the one 1 hour does not apply if the SRP supplies all clothing, accessories, etc.) or it starts otherwise at 6:00 p.m. if due to work related reasons the SRP is unable to start parenting time after school recesses. Summer break concludes at 6:00 p.m. on the seventh (7th) day prior to school reconvening for the next school year.
- Hours of Shared Parenting: Hours of shared parenting for Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Birthdays, and school planning days, shall be from 9:00 a.m. until school begins the following morning (if in session), or otherwise at 9:00 a.m. the following morning when the child is returned to the PRP, or day care, if applicable.
- School Planning Days: Parents are to divide all school planning days equally. In that regard, the PRP should notify the SRP at the beginning of each school year as to when all school planning days are scheduled, so that the SRP can make efforts to spend this additional time with their child on a rotating basis. If the parties cannot agree, the PRP shall have the first school planning day, and every other school planning day thereafter.
- Cancellation by Secondary-residential Parent: Forty-eight (48) hours notice shall be given by the SRP to the PRP if parenting time will not be exercised for any scheduled parenting time. Otherwise, the SRP is expected to pick up the child at the appointed time. Any shared parenting time canceled without forty-eight (48) hours notice by the SRP shall be forfeited unless the non-parenting time is caused by illness, extended work hours, or a physical impossibility to pick up the child. In that event, and if make-up parenting time is requested, it shall be in accordance with Paragraph 12.
- Itinerary: Each parent (PRP, SRP) shall provide to the other an itinerary when parenting time will be exercised in a different locale other than the home or in the usual place of parenting, consisting of an exact address of the location of where the child shall stay during this time, the length of the stay, all persons’ names who may provide care for the child during the stay, the departure date, the date of return/arrival, telephone number where the child can be reached during the day, and/or a cell phone number if available when that parent intends to spend any substantial portion of time at some place other than his/her home. Substantial is defined as three (3) days or more.
- Scheduled Events: In the event the child has an extracurricular activity or social event, e.g., softball game, ballet, Scout meeting, then both parents are required to assure the child’s attendance, provided the parents have agreed that the child will participate in these activities, and the child is not otherwise ill or unable to attend due to extraordinary circumstances.
- Weekday Parenting Time: The SRP shall have parenting time each Wednesday from the time school recesses, or one (1) hour after school recesses (the one 1 hour does not apply if the SRP supplies all clothing, accessories, etc.) or it starts otherwise at 6:00 p.m. if due to work related reasons the SRP is unable to start parenting time after school recesses until the following morning when the child is either taken to school, returned to the PRP or day care, if applicable. If school is out of session, the child shall be returned to the PRP or day care provider, no later than 9:00 a.m. the following morning. In the event the child is in day care, the SRP shall be able to pick up the child at any time he/she desires. The PRP shall provide written authorization for the SRP to pick up the child whether at school or day care. Weekday parenting time shall commence on the first (1st) Wednesday following a hearing addressing parenting time, mediation, or such times as the parties may otherwise agree in writing.
- Religious Days/Holidays: The Court recognizes that this schedule (and the typical school schedule) revolves around certain religious days/holidays. If one or both parties are of a different faith or nationality, then those religious days/holidays shall be shared equally
- Transportation: The child shall be transported to and from parenting time by the SRP, the parent’s spouse, the grandparents, or by a third-party agreed to by both parents. However, the PRP shall be responsible for transportation during the summer when it is the SRP’s scheduled summer parenting time.
- Waiting: The child and the PRP shall have no duty to await the arrival of the SRP for more than thirty (30) minutes. If the child is not picked up by the SRP within that time, parenting time shall be forfeited for that visitation period, unless the SRP’s lateness is excused by illness, extended work hours, or a physical impossibility to arrive on time, or a telephone call explaining the reason for the delay before the thirty (30) minutes have elapsed.
- Cancellations by PRP: In the event the child is ill and unable to safely leave the home, the PRP shall give the SRP twenty-four (24) hours notice, if possible, in order that appropriate alternate plans can be made in accordance with Paragraph 12. If medication has been prescribed for the child, then that medicine shall accompany the child, and shall be given as prescribed. The doctor’s name and phone number shall be shared. In the event an accident or illness occurs while in the care of either parent, that parent shall notify the other parent as soon as practical.
- Communications: The child shall be entitled to telephonic communication with the PRP at least once each day and more often if the child desires or initiates the call, during any period of visitation. Said communication may be initiated either by the child or the PRP and, shall be exercised at such time as will be least disruptive to the child’s normal routine. Conversely, the SRP shall be entitled to the same telephonic communication when he/she is not exercising parenting time. Each parent shall keep the other advised of the child’s current address and telephone number.
- Make-up Parenting Time: If weekend parenting time is missed, it shall be made up on an "alternate weekend" (presumably the weekend immediately following the missed parenting time period). The regular parenting time shall then recommence the following weekend. Summer, Spring Break, Fall Break, and Christmas make-up days shall be added to the parenting time schedule the following summer, Spring Break, Fall Break, or Christmas. Make-up parenting for weekday visitation shall be made up the next day, or otherwise is forfeited unless the parties otherwise agree.
- Rotation Schedule: Many parents choose to follow, and Courts may approve, a rotation of parenting time-sharing arrangement between parents and their children. Rotating parenting arrangements may include, but are not limited to, alternating Thursdays from the time the child is released from school or day care, until Tuesday morning at which time the child shall be returned to school, day care, or the other parent, as the case may be; alternating weeks from Sunday at 6:00 p.m. to the following Sunday at 6:00 p.m.; or six/nine-week periods of rotation which are commensurate with (equal to) the child’s school schedule. Holidays should be exercised according to the above schedule when parents are rotating parenting time with their child.
- Adequate Clean Clothing for the Parenting Time: Clean and appropriate (correct size, seasonally correct, etc.) clothing shall be supplied by the PRP, and all clothes shall be returned by the SRP to the PRP in the same condition.
- Pre-school Aged Children (before age 6): Pre-school children who are not enrolled in a pre-school program may have more flexibility as it relates to summer vacation, Christmas holidays, Thanksgiving holidays, Spring Breaks, and Fall Breaks. As such, rather than equally dividing the summer, parents may wish to spread this time over the months of the year. Parents are permitted to change the above schedule for pre-schoolers in accordance with Paragraph 22 below. In the event the parents cannot agree to these changes to the benefit of their child, then the parents shall follow the Shared Parenting Schedule.
- Relocation of PRP: When the PRP intends to relocate outside the current residential area, he/she shall provide the SRP with ninety (90) days written notice prior to relocation. Sometimes circumstances (e.g., unexpected job promotion or transfer, applied for but unanticipated acceptance into school or a training program, etc.) may place the relocating parent in a position of not having sufficient knowledge to give ninety (90) days notice, in that event, the relocating parent shall give written notice within a reasonable period of time. In such a circumstance, thirty (30) days is presumed to be a reasonable period of time.
- Attorney's Fees and Court Costs: In the event a contempt hearing is held and one (1) parent has been found in contempt for violation of this Shared Parenting Schedule, then the parent found in contempt shall be subject to appropriate sanctions, which may include (but are not limited to) payment of the other parties’ attorney’s fees and costs.
- Child Support: Non-payment or late payment of child support is not a legal or acceptable reason to deviate from this schedule. Conversely, denial of parenting time will not legally justify non-payment or late payment of child support.
- Grandparents: Grandparents usually have a desire to maintain a relationship and contact with their grandchildren. Conversely, grandchildren benefit from maintaining a strong and loving relationship with their Grandparents. The parents are strongly encouraged to share parenting time with the paternal and maternal Grandparents.
- Flexibility: Each parent is encouraged to mutually agree to change his/her schedule to suit the needs of the child first (1st) and themselves secondly. The parties may, by mutual agreement, change the terms of this Shared Parenting Schedule. However, if the parties change the terms of this Shared Parenting Schedule and do not submit and obtain a Court order adopting the change, in the event of a dispute, the Court will find this Shared Parenting Schedule controls.
- Operation of Amended Shared Parenting Schedule: This Shared Parenting Schedule shall operate retroactively, and affects all family law cases which have adopted the Standard Visitation Schedule and any version thereof, including the Blanchard, Gilliam and Kuder Standard Visitation Schedules.
- Adjustment of Agreement: The parties are permitted to mutually adjust this Shared Parenting Schedule. It is preferable to reduce any adjustment to writing, signed by both parties and notarized. The parties may reach an unwritten agreement also, but if the Court, in its exercise or its discretion, chooses to recognize the agreement, it will only adopt and/or enforce an agreement that has been reduced to writing, signed by both parties and notarized.