In most cases, parental responsibility for making major decisions regarding the welfare (health, education, and religion) of a minor child will be shared by both parents. If parents can’t agree on these types of issues, a court will make the final decision for them. With respect to physical custody, courts prefer that both parents continue to be a part of their children’s lives. Although the court will designate one parent’s home as the primary residence of the child, the other parent is usually entitled to frequent and continuing contact with the child. The exception to this is where the court finds that visitation will not be in the child’s best interest.

Section 61.13(2)(c)(1), Florida Statutes, reads “It is the public policy of this state that each minor child has frequent and continuing contact with both parents after the parents separate or the marriage of the parties is dissolved and to encourage parents to share the rights and responsibilities, and joys, of childrearing. There is no presumption for or against the father or mother of the child or for or against any specific time-sharing schedule when creating or modifying the parenting plan of the child.”