Child custody disputes put your child’s future, your parenting time, and your daily life at risk. Kofsky Law Office in Stuart guides parents through tough custody cases with steady counsel and strong courtroom work.
Led by Martin Kofsky, our team handles everything from routine time-sharing plans to high-conflict disputes. We handle hard cases involving safety concerns, relocation disputes, and complex financial dynamics. If you need an advocate who keeps the focus on your kids and your goals, we are ready to step in.
Florida Child Custody Law: An Overview
Florida uses the best interests of the child standard. Judges look at a collection of factors set out in the Florida Statutes, and then apply those facts to your family’s situation. No two cases are the same, but the focus always sits on your child’s health, safety, and development.
Every case with minor children needs a Parenting Plan. This plan explains time-sharing, decision-making, school and healthcare choices, communication methods, and holiday schedules. Parents can agree on a plan, or a judge will set one after hearing the evidence.
Legal custody refers to decision-making rights, such as those over education and medical care. Physical custody, often called time-sharing, covers where the child lives and the weekly schedule. Florida gives both parents equal consideration and favors frequent and continuing contact when safe and appropriate.
| Topic | What It Means in Florida | What to Expect |
| Best Interests Standard | The judge looks at the child’s needs and each parent’s ability to meet them. | Evidence matters, including school records, care history, and parental conduct. |
| Parenting Plan | Required in all cases with minor children. | Details time-sharing, decision-making, and communication guidelines. |
| Legal vs. Physical Custody | Legal is decision-making. Physical is time-sharing and residence. | Plans can split rights differently based on the child’s needs. |
| Equal Consideration | Florida does not favor one parent over the other at the outset. | Courts look for safe, steady contact with both parents when it helps the child. |
If you are unsure how these rules apply to your case, we can walk you through them step by step.
How Kofsky Law Can Assist with Your Child Custody Case
Our firm builds a plan around your goals, your child’s needs, and the reality of the court process in Martin County. We listen carefully, then we act with purpose and precision. Here is how we work with you from day one.
Initial Consultation: A Focused Assessment
We start by reviewing your history, any prior orders, and present concerns. You get clear feedback on risks and likely outcomes, so you know where things stand. The meeting is a safe space to vent, ask questions, and set priorities.
- We review communication records, school and medical information, and any incident reports.
- We map short-term needs, such as temporary time-sharing, and long-term goals, such as final decision-making rights.
- You leave with a simple action list, timelines, and the next steps for building your case.
This early groundwork often sets the tone for the entire case.
Crafting a Focused Legal Strategy
We build a plan that fits your family’s reality. That plan can include child-focused resources, witness preparation, and targeted filings that move issues forward. We also plan for problems before they pop up.
- We look at the child’s needs, parental fitness, any history of substance misuse or violence, and daily caregiving patterns.
- We prepare for tough scenarios, including relocation requests, changes to existing orders, and disputes tied to complex prenuptial or postnuptial agreements.
- We coordinate with financial and child-centered professionals when your case calls for it.
Every step aims to protect your time with your child and the child’s well-being.
Aggressive Advocacy and Skilled Negotiation
We press for strong results at the table and in court. Your side is presented with clear facts, tight exhibits, and practical proposals. Where conflict runs hot, we keep the case on track and focused on the child.
Our team knows local procedure and how judges run hearings. That practical knowledge helps us position your case for a clean ruling. If a fair agreement is possible, we push for it without dragging things out.
Modification and Enforcement of Orders
Life changes. If a job shift, school change, or safety concern affects your child, we handle modifications supported by solid evidence. We also bring enforcement actions when the other parent ignores orders or frustrates time-sharing.
Swift action can protect your rights and your child’s routine. We move quickly and keep you updated at each step.
Complex Child Custody Cases We Handle
Many lawyers can manage simple parenting schedules. Our firm is often called in when the case turns tough or the stakes get high. We keep a cool head while pushing for strong, durable results.
- High-conflict divorce where communication has broken down.
- High-net-worth divorce with business interests, stock grants, or real estate holdings tied to parenting claims.
- Relocation cases and out-of-state issues affecting time-sharing.
- Challenges linked to complex prenuptial or postnuptial agreements.
If your matter feels messy or unfair, we are ready to take it on.
Common Child Custody Challenges in Stuart, FL
Parents in Stuart often face disputes over Parenting Plans, holiday schedules, and how support ties into time-sharing. Small disagreements can quickly snowball without a clear process. Our job is to bring structure and solutions.
- Disputes over school choice or medical providers.
- Late exchanges or communication breakdowns between households.
- Conflicts tied to extracurriculars, travel, or new partners.
We keep the child’s needs in mind and build plans that hold up under stress.
Parenting Plan Disputes
When parents cannot agree on a plan, the court will set one after hearing evidence. We prepare detailed proposals that show how your plan supports stability and the child’s day-to-day life. Mediation often resolves many terms, and we bring tight drafts to those sessions.
Our team focuses on practical fixes that reduce friction, such as clear exchange times, phone call windows, and travel notice rules. A simple structure can significantly reduce conflict.
Relocation Disputes
Florida’s relocation statute uses a 50-mile rule measured from the current residence. A parent who wants to move with a child for more than 60 days needs either written consent or a court order. The court considers the reasons for the move, its impact on the child, and ways to preserve meaningful contact.
We prepare relocation petitions or oppositions with clear evidence, proposed schedules, and workable travel plans. If a move helps the child, we show why. If it hurts the child, we build a record that blocks it.
Child Support Issues
Florida Child Support Guidelines use each parent’s income, health insurance, childcare costs, and the time-sharing schedule. Small changes in overnights or income can shift support. We help set, modify, and enforce support so the numbers match real life.
Our filings include accurate worksheets and supporting documentation, reducing back-and-forth in court. Clear math leads to better results.
Frequently Asked Questions about Florida Child Custody
Parents often share the same worries, and straight answers help calm the waters. Here are a few common questions and short answers you can use right now.
What factors do Florida courts look at for the best interests of the child?
Judges look at each parent’s capacity to provide a stable home, meet the child’s needs, and support a healthy bond with the other parent. They look at school history, daily caregiving, mental and physical health, and any safety concerns. They also look at a parent’s willingness to follow the plan and keep conflict away from the child.
At what age can a child decide which parent to live with in Florida?
There is no fixed age. Judges sometimes weigh a mature child’s preference, but only when the child shows good judgment and the request fits the child’s best interests. The preference is one data point, not the whole case.
Can a custody order be modified in the future?
Yes, if you can show a substantial and lasting change in circumstances, and that the new plan fits the child’s best interests. Examples include a major schedule shift, relocation, or ongoing noncompliance. We gather proof and propose clear revised terms.
What is supervised time sharing, and when is it ordered?
Supervised time sharing places a neutral third party or a center in the room for visits. Courts use it when there are safety concerns, substance misuse, or a need to reintroduce a parent after a long gap. The goal is safe contact while issues get addressed.
Contact Kofsky Law Today
Your relationship with your child deserves strong protection. If you are ready to discuss next steps, call 561-407-0703 to speak with Martin Kofsky or reach out through our website. We welcome your questions and will give you straight answers about your options.
We handle both everyday parenting plans and the hardest cases in Stuart. Feel free to contact us, and let’s start building a plan that supports your child’s future and your rights.