Gainesville Family Lawyer -- Leslie Smith Haswell, P.A.

Parental Time Sharing

When a divorcing couple has children, it is important to remember that all decisions concerning the children should be made putting the children’s best interests first.  Just because the husband and wife no longer want to live together doesn’t mean the children should suffer the loss of either parent.   Many parents do not realize that it is harmful to children to talk with them about the divorce.  It is the wise parent who deflects questions, takes the phone call from the lawyer when the kids are not around, refuses to argue with the other parent in front of the children, and reassures the children that even though the parents are divorcing, both of them love the children and want what is best for them.  A knowledgeable family law attorney can help you make decisions which are in the best interests of
your children.

Divorcing couples with children are required to have a Parenting Plan.  The Parenting Plan details how the parents will co-parent the children once they are divorced.  Each parent should consider when that parent wants to be with the children, how he or she thinks holidays and time away from school should be handled, who will be responsible for taking the children to extracurricular activities, how they will make decisions together that affect the children, whose address will be used for school, and a myriad of other considerations.

Our law firm handles a wide variety of parenting issues. 
We can help you develop a parenting plan which is tailored to you and your children’s unique circumstances. 

Our firm will work with you to achieve the best possible outcome while preserving your parental rights and protecting your children’s best interests.