Can A Child Have Input On Who They Want To Live With In Florida?

If the court deems a child to be of sufficient intelligence, understanding, and experience to express a preference, then the courts will likely consider their preference. In general, these children are between the ages of 12 and 17. If a child’s preference is going to be considered or if a parent wants their child to testify, then a time will be scheduled for the child to talk to the judge in chambers. In most cases, neither parent will be allowed in the judge’s chambers when the judge is speaking with a child about their preference. This actually contradicts the statute, because the statute says that a motion would have to be filed and counsel or a court reporter would have to be in the room in order for such discussions to occur. However, since no one wants children involved in litigation unless completely necessary, the statute is not strictly abided by in this regard. As a result, it’s not uncommon for parents to never know what their children said to the judge. Many parents try to use hearsay as evidence of what they believe their child prefers, but such hearsay is never considered in trial.

Are Medical Specialists Needed To Weigh In On The Best Interests Of The Child?

In Florida, there is a guardian ad litem parental evaluation. Depending on the circumstances of a case, parent coordinators, reunification therapists, or counselors may be involved. If there are a lot of hearsay issues in a case, then there may be a need to bring in experts. For instance, each parent might be making an allegation against the other in an effort to make them look like a “bad” parent. In such cases, an individual referred to as the guardian ad litem may be specifically appointed by the court to conduct an investigation of the family, make a report, and provide a recommendation as to what they believe the time-sharing plan should be. These individuals may have information which could quash an allegation of drug use or domestic violence, so they’re very important. They can also determine whether or not the parent has the proper and suitable housing for the children and whether they enforce a healthful routine for the children.

The other expert is a parent evaluator, which differs from the guardian ad litem in that they may be able to conduct psychological examinations. This may be a good idea in cases where the mental health of either parent has been put into question. The other expert is a parent coordinator, which can be useful when parents cannot communicate and therefore cannot co-parent. The parent coordinator would facilitate communication between the parents and assist the judge in understanding each parent’s perspective. If one parent has not been around their children for an extended period of time, then a reunification expert may be used to help restore or establish a positive relationship between the parent and the children.

For more information on Child’s Input In Parental Timesharing In FL, a free case evaluation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (239) 334-4383 today.