Usually, for parents going through a divorce, the hardest part is agreeing on the children’s timesharing and parenting plan arrangement. Often, timesharing cases are contentious. With that said, it is unfortunate to note that sometimes, parents make matters worse by engaging in certain behavior. Sometimes, parents make mistakes that end up affecting the outcome of their timesharing case. If you have a pending timesharing case, you need to avoid making mistakes that could affect the outcome of your case.
So, what mistakes should you avoid if you have a pending Florida timesharing case? Well, the list of mistakes you need to avoid is endless. In this article, we talk about four of these mistakes.
Mistake #1: Talking Badly About the Other Parent to Your Child
This is the number one mistake parents make, and both mothers and fathers are guilty of making this mistake. It is crucial that you avoid badmouthing the other parent as doing so is damaging to your child. Also, the court may consider evidence of badmouthing when making a decision about timesharing. Badmouthing a parent to their child usually leads to parental alienation, and Florida courts strongly condemn parental alienation.
Mistake #2: Not Trying to Communicate or Cooperate With the Other Parent
If you do not put any effort into trying to communicate or cooperate with your child’s other parent, the court might conclude that you are not willing to promote a relationship between your child and the other parent. If that happens, the court might rule in the other parent’s favor. Remember, Florida courts usually focus on the child’s best interests when it comes to timesharing cases. And, not promoting a relationship between your child and the other parent is not in your child’s best interest. Also, you need to try to communicate and cooperate with the other parent for the good and well-being of your child. Children need to see their parents communicating and collaborating even when things are not going smoothly.
Mistake #3: Ignoring Court Orders
If the court asks you to do or not to do something, ensure you cooperate, as ignoring court orders can result in you being held in contempt. If that happens, you may lose timesharing rights. Also, if you ignore or violate a court order, you could end up facing other consequences such as jail time.
Mistake #4: Trying to Destroy the Reputation of the Other Parent via Social Media
Today, social media posts can be used as evidence against you in court. Generally, social media posts are considered fair game, and the court is allowed to evaluate them as evidence. Negative posts about the other parent can be interpreted to mean you are not willing to promote a relationship between your child and the other parent. Therefore, you must avoid posting negative things about the other parent on social media. For example, avoid tweeting about what a lousy parent the other parent is. If you can, it would be best for you to keep off social media until your timesharing case is over.
Contact a Family Law Attorney Today
Do you need more information about timesharing in Florida or help with your timesharing case? If so, contact a family law attorney at Tampa Bay Legal Center, P.A., today at (813) 341-3333.