Protecting your relationship with your children.
Few things matter more than your time with your children. Attorney Jessica Ramirez-Garcia helps Miami-Dade and Broward parents create, negotiate, and defend parenting plans that put their children first and protect their rights as parents, in English or Spanish.
Call (305) 201-0529 · Hablamos Español
How “custody” works in Florida
Florida law no longer uses the word “custody.” Instead, a court decides two things:
- Parental responsibility: who makes major decisions about the child’s education, health care, and religious upbringing. Shared parental responsibility is the norm unless it would be harmful to the child.
- Time-sharing: the schedule for when the child is with each parent, set out in a parenting plan.
Since July 1, 2023, Florida law starts from a presumption that equal time-sharing is in the child’s best interest. A parent can overcome that presumption by showing, with evidence, that a different schedule is better for the child.
What the court considers
Judges decide time-sharing based on the child’s best interests. Some of the factors they look at include:
- Each parent’s ability to put the child’s needs first and support the child’s relationship with the other parent
- Who has handled day-to-day parenting tasks, such as school, doctor visits, and activities
- The child’s ties to home, school, and community
- Each parent’s moral fitness and mental and physical health
- Any history of domestic violence, abuse, or neglect
- The child’s own preferences, if the child is mature enough
How we help
- Parenting plans that fit your family’s real schedule, including holidays, school breaks, and travel
- Negotiation and mediation to reach an agreement without a court battle when possible
- Court representation when an agreement isn’t possible
- Paternity cases for unmarried parents who need rights established
- Relocation when a parent wants to move more than 50 miles away
- Modifications when your family’s situation changes
Why parents choose JRG Law
- Bilingual representation in English and Spanish.
- Personal attention. You work directly with Jessica, a Florida Bar member since 2018.
- A compassionate approach shaped by her background in psychology.
- Two offices, by appointment in Coral Gables and West Kendall.
Frequently asked questions
Do mothers get custody more often than fathers?
No. Florida law is gender-neutral. The court starts from a presumption of equal time-sharing and decides based on the child’s best interests.
At what age can a child decide where to live?
There is no set age in Florida. A judge may consider a mature child’s preference, but it is only one factor.
Do we have to take a parenting class?
Yes. Divorcing parents of minor children in Florida must complete a parent education course before the final judgment.
Can I move away with my child?
If you want to move more than 50 miles for at least 60 days, you need the other parent’s written agreement or the court’s permission.
Talk to a Miami child custody lawyer today
Call (305) 201-0529 or schedule your free consultation online. We serve families throughout Miami-Dade and Broward. Se habla español.
The information on this page is general and is not legal advice. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.