Will my career impact my child custody rights?

On Behalf of | Aug 25, 2022 | Florida Family Law

You have spent years building up your career with your spouse. You may have had children along the way that you are now raising and are getting older. As time passes, however, your dreams for your marriage may fall short and the time may come when it is more reasonable to divorce. If you have a high-power career, you may be concerned about how the hours away from home at the office will affect your child custody options.

Child custody in Florida

There are a variety of child custody options in Florida.

First, parents will have either joint legal custody or sole legal custody. Legal custody refers to the right to make key life decisions regarding the child. It does not refer to where the child lives on a daily basis.

With regards to the child’s living arrangements, one option is for one parent to have sole physical custody. In this case, one parent will have the child with them the majority of the time, and the other parent has visitation periods with the child. You and your child’s other parent can share joint legal custody, even if only one of you has sole physical custody.

Other times the court may award joint physical custody. In this case, both parents are seen legally as custodial parents. The child will reside with each parent for a “significant” amount of time, even if this does not necessarily lead to an even 50/50 split.

Child custody and the best interests of the child

Ultimately, any child custody decisions made will be made based on what is in the best interests of the child. Your work schedule could impact how much time you spend with your child but having a career should not mean you will have no rights to your child whatsoever.

Many parents have successful careers and at the same time are loving, attentive parents even if they divorce. Awards of child custody that are based on the best interests of the child can also be in the best interests of the parents as well.