A divorce can happen for many reasons. Some spouses may have irreconcilable differences. In other cases, a marriage may end due to abuse, neglect or because of one spouse’s habits.
If parents face these situations, it could harm them and their children. Therefore, fathers may wish to pursue sole custody of their kids to protect them.
Florida can grant sole parental responsibility
Florida law treats both the mother and the father equally when it comes to decisions on parenting and time-sharing. The state typically prioritizes shared parental responsibility, as it believes this option to be the best for a child’s development.
It is important to note that while it is rare, a family court can award sole parental responsibility. It is possible for fathers to seek sole parental responsibility if a family court determines that shared responsibility could be harmful to the child.
The following circumstances may lead to sole parental responsibility:
- The former spouse has a domestic abuse conviction
- They are a sex offender
- They are incarcerated
- They have abandoned or neglected the child
- They have a history of substance abuse
- They have voluntarily surrendered the child
A father can seek sole parental responsibility of their child based on these reasons. But these do not guarantee that a court will grant them full sole parental responsibility.
What happens if a court grants you sole responsibility?
If the court gives one parent sole responsibility, they would then be able to make important decisions about the child’s future without consulting their former spouse.
However, it is up to the court to decide if the other parent gets time-sharing rights with the child. Depending on the circumstances, the court may allow them to visit the child with or without supervision.
Even though sole parental responsibility can be difficult to pursue in Florida for both mothers and fathers, it is possible. You can pursue this if you believe that it could protect your child from harm.
