Child Custody & Visitation
Milton, Florida, Child Custody Lawyer
While Florida has one set of statutes that apply to issues such as child custody, visitation and child support, those laws can also be applied very differently from county to county. Attorney Jennifer Byrom has more than 23 years of experience in how these issues are resolved in Santa Rosa County, Escambia County, Okaloosa County and Walton County in the Florida panhandle. She represents mothers and fathers in divorce cases as well as in paternity suits.
Florida courts favor joint legal custody of children unless there is a compelling reason to award sole custody to one parent. Legal custody refers to who will make decisions on major life issues such as the child's education, medical care and religious upbringing. The issue that is most often disputed in divorce concerns who will have primary physical custody, which, in Florida, is called parental responsibility.
While many Florida counties favor rotating custody (one week on, one week off) arrangements, most judges in Santa Rosa County, Escambia County, Okaloosa County and Walton County favor standard child custody and visitation plans. In a standard child custody and visitation plan, one parent has primary custody while the other parent has the child on alternate weekends, alternate holidays, one night during the week, and a period of time during the summer.
Florida courts will order a pretrial custody order while the divorce is in process. In Santa Rosa County and Escambia County, this order is issued automatically with a presumption that it will give each parent 50 percent of the overnights with the child. If you do not want a 50-50 child custody plan while your divorce is in process, it is important to get a lawyer's advice as soon as possible.
Child support in Florida is determined by a formula that considers the incomes of both parents, the number of children, and the custody and visitation plan. In addition to drafting child support orders, we handle child support modifications and child support enforcement after divorce.
Attorney consultation
To discuss your child custody, child support or paternity case with an experienced Florida lawyer, call Jennifer Byrom at 850-623-4347 or fill out our simple contact form.
Jennifer Byrom, P.A.
5177 Elmira Street
Milton, FL 32570-5905
Phone: 850-623-4347 | Fax: 850-623-5163
Toll Free: 877-889-8822
