Florida does not use the term custody in its family law statutes. The legal framework uses parental responsibility, which refers to decision-making authority over a child's education and healthcare, and time-sharing, which describes the schedule determining where the child lives and when each parent has the child. Courts in Broward County default to an expectation that both parents will share parental responsibility unless circumstances justify otherwise. For Hollywood families going through a divorce or a custody determination for unmarried parents, the parenting plan submitted to the court must be specific enough to function as a practical guide for both households.
When parents cannot agree on a parenting plan, the court conducts an evaluation of the relevant factors listed in Florida statute, which include the demonstrated willingness of each parent to facilitate a relationship between the child and the other parent, each parent's capacity to provide a stable environment, any history of domestic violence or substance abuse, and the child's own preferences when the child is of sufficient age and maturity to express them. Brodzki Jacobs helps Hollywood clients prepare the documentation and evidence needed to present a clear and credible case on each of these factors.
