Parental Planning & Support

Naples, Florida, Child Custody and Support Attorney

Under the old law, Florida family courts frown upon split and rotating child-custody arrangements. If child custody was contested, courts would usually pick one parent to have primary custodial custody, based on about 13 different factors. The parent without primary custody would have visitation — alternating weekends, a weekday, split holidays, summers and split winter and spring breaks. In October of 2008, this law was overhauled and more equitable parenting plans are now required.

If you are involved in child custody or child support dispute, contact David T. Agoston Attorney at Law. We can explain how the child custody and support process works.

Florida Child Support Guidelines

Child support is governed by Florida statute, and is based on the net income of both parents and the number of children. Health care and day care expenses will be added to child support payments. If you are the non-custodial parent, the court will order you to pay child support retroactive to the date of separation if you do not voluntarily agree to it.

Child Custody Negotiations

Most of the time, both parents have a strong motivation to negotiate a reasonable child custody and visitation arrangement. As your lawyer, we will help you do this. Judges often look at the past to determine the future. So, during your initial consultation, we will ask you whom the child has been living with, what visitation as been, and what the voluntary child support has been given.

Child Custody Trials

I have been a trial lawyer in Lee County and Collier County for 15 years. While we have extensive experience in family courts, we would not put you through a child custody trial unless you really felt it was necessary and there was no other way to solve the issue.

Parenting plan battles are damaging to children and expensive for parents. A typical Florida child custody trial can cost more than $10,000 in expert witness fees alone, and that does not include attorney fees. Contested child custody cases can drag on for years and be emotionally draining for all parties involved.

Under Florida law, you can seek a modification of the agreement or family court order for child support and parenting plans if there is a significant change in circumstances after your initial order.

If you are facing child support or child custody issues, contact us, Collier County family law attorney David T. Agoston. Se habla español.