• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • Pensacola Office
  • Ft. Walton Beach
  • Fairhope, Alabama
FREE Consultation on All Personal Injury Claims: 850-500-1111
850-500-1111
Whibbs Stone Barnett Turner, PA
  • Firm Overview
    • Contact Us
    • Client Reviews
    • Why Hire Us
    • Types Of Injuries That Require An Attorney
    • How To Evaluate A Law Firm
    • Need Help with a Lawsuit?
  • AttorneysPensacola, FL Attorney Profiles Our Attorneys Serve Fort Walton Beach, Pensacola & Surrounding Areas The law firm of Whibbs & Stone, P.A., is ready and willing to help you. With over 60 years of combined experience practicing law, our lawyers work effectively to get the results you deserve. Suzanne Whibbs Suzanne Whibbs received her undergraduate degree from the University of Auburn in 1993. In 1997, she received her J.D. from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. Ms. Whibbs is a member of the Florida Bar, the Escambia-Santa Rosa County Bar Association, and the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Sections of the Florida Bar. Her practice focuses primarily on Collections, Real Estate, Wills, Probate, Trusts and Estates, Debtor and Creditor Law, Business Law and Banking Law. Donovan Whibbs Donovan Whibbs received his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama in 1994. In 1997, he received his J.D. from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, where he was the Associate Editor for the American Journal of Trial Advocacy. He is a member of both the Florida and Alabama Bar. Mr. Whibbs is a member of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Florida Bar, Association of Trial Lawyers of America,…
    • J. Donovan Whibbs
    • Scott Stone
    • Ryan M. Barnett
    • Suzanne Whibbs
    • Richard Turner
    • Gregory Whibbs
    • Chase Caldwell
  • Practice AreasPensacola Lawyers Our lawyers serve Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach & Surrounding Areas Located in Pensacola, Florida, the attorneys at Whibbs & Stone, P.A. represent clients throughout Florida in a variety of legal matters. We are a full service law firm established to assist clients a number of business-related matters and personal legal concerns, including the following: Accident Injuries Workers Compensation Automobile Accidents Trucking Accidents Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Criminal Law DUI Business Transactions Contract and Commercial Litigation Real Estate Estate Planning, Probate, Wills, Trusts, and Elder Law Social Security Disability Medical Malpractice Insurance Disputes Bankruptcy Family Law & Divorce We earned our reputation for excellence and our track record of success by providing individuals and businesses with excellent legal representation, the highest level of personal service, and our attention to detail. We will aggressively pursue your claim and zealously protect your rights. Pensacola Personal Injury Lawyers Our experienced personal injury lawyers assist clients that have suffered a personal injury, have lost a loved one, or want to recover workers compensation for an injury on the job. Our personal injury practice includes auto accidents (car wreck, car crash) as well as slip and fall claims. In many of these cases,…
    • Personal Injury
      • Motor Vehicle Accidents
        • Motorcycle Accidents
          • Destin Motorcycle Accident
          • Mobile Motorcycle Accident
        • Trucking Accidents
          • Pace Truck Accident
        • Distracted Drivers
        • Boating Accident
        • Bus Accidents
        • Railroad Crossing Accidents
        • Drunk Driving Accidents
        • Destin Car Accident
        • Pace Car Accident
      • Serious Injuries
        • Brain Injuries
        • Spinal Cord Injuries
        • Wrongful Death
        • Burn Injuries
      • Workplace Injuries
        • Fort Walton Beach Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
        • Construction Accidents
        • Workers’ Compensation
          • Panama City Workers Compensation
          • Destin Workers Compensation
      • Family Law & Divorce
        • Divorce
          • High Net Worth Divorce
          • Destin Divorce
        • Child Support
        • Child Custody
        • Division of Assets
        • Alimony
      • Pedestrian Accidents
        • Destin Pedestrian Accident
      • Bicycle Accidents
      • Slip and Fall / Dog Bites
      • Nursing Home Abuse & Neglect
    • Outside of Pensacola
      • Pace Personal Injury
      • Fort Walton Beach Car Accidents
      • Fort Walton Beach Truck Accidents
      • Fort Walton Beach Pedestrian Accident
      • Destin Truck Accidents
      • Panama City Car Accidents
      • Mobile Car Accidents
      • Panama City Personal Injury
      • Destin Personal Injury
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Social Security Disability
    • Real Estate
    • Estate Planning
      • Wills
      • Trust
      • Probate
    • Criminal Law
      • DUI
    • Employment Law
    • Insurance Disputes
  • FAQsFrequently Asked Questions at Our Pensacola Personal Injury Law Firm Florida attorneys you can turn to for answers Whibbs & Stone, Attorneys at Law ensures clients are fully informed about personal injury law. The answers to the following questions are just the beginning. Once you have read them, you are invited to discuss your injury with a qualified Pensacola injury lawyer at our firm. What are some common myths about accident cases? What should I prepare for my first meeting with a lawyer? What questions should I ask when selecting an attorney? Should I provide a statement to an insurance company without a lawyer’s help? Will I have to go to trial to recover damages? How much will the legal process cost? What determines the amount I might recover? What are PIP benefits in Florida? A dog bit me. Who do I tell? What is the “one free bite” rule? How long will my case take? When you need a Pensacola accident injury attorney you can trust If you require assistance with common questions related to an injury accident, do not hesitate to contact Whibbs & Stone, Attorneys at Law online or at [phone] to schedule a FREE CONSULTATION on…
    • Personal Injury FAQs
    • Social Security FAQs
    • Workers’ Compensation FAQs
    • Family Law FAQs
    • Video FAQs
  • BlogBlog [rss feed=”http://research.lawyers.com/blogs/authors/2407-Ryan-M-Barnett/blogs/feeds/index.rss” num=”5″ excerpt=”true” target=”_blank”]
  • Contact Us
  • Pay Now
  • Menu Menu

FREE Consultation on All Personal Injury Claims
850-500-1111

  • Child Custody

    child custody lawyers in Pensacola, Florida
  1. Practice Areas >
  2. Family Law & Divorce >
  3. Child Custody >

Child Custody Lawyers in Pensacola

During a dissolution of marriage in Florida, one of the most contentious and emotionally-charged issues that must be resolved is who gets custody of the child(ren). There are times when divorcing parents do not see eye to eye, and it is difficult to come to an agreement that both parents can live with. When this is the case, it is up to the courts to make the decision based on the best interests of the child(ren). For parents in this situation, it is important to have a skilled attorney in their corner advocating for their rights and interests.

At the Law Offices of Whibbs, Stone & Barnett, P.A., we have more than 60 years of combined experience assisting clients with family law & divorce issues in Pensacola and communities throughout the Florida Panhandle and Gulf Coast. Our lawyers provide high-quality representation for important legal matters that often arise in a marriage dissolution, such as child custody. We are skilled litigators and strong negotiators. Whenever possible, we try to work out an acceptable parenting plan between you and your spouse. If necessary, however, we are ready and able to strongly argue for your interests at trial and upon appeal.

Child Custody Laws in Florida

When a Florida child custody case is contested, the courts examine several factors to determine what is in the child’s best interests. These may include:

  • Health of Current Relationships: The court examines the relationships each parent currently has with the child. The court also looks closely at each parent’s relationship with other people who are important in the child’s life. Examples include friends, teachers, coaches, parents of friends and classmates, doctors, and other family members.
  • Current Parenting Responsibilities: Another important factor is what the parenting roles and responsibilities of each parent are presently. For example, the court may look at which parent is more involved with the child’s schoolwork and extra-curricular activities, which parent takes the children to the doctor when they’re sick, etc.
  • The Child’s Present Living Situation: If the parents are living in separate homes, the child is probably already living primarily with one or the other. The home and community the child is currently living in and the school they attend are all very important factors.
  • Health of the Parents: The mental and physical health of the parents is examined, and the court also takes into account related issues such as a history of alcohol or drug abuse by either parent and/or a history of domestic violence or abuse. If adverse factors like these are present with one of the parents, the court is more likely to grant the other parent sole responsibility.
  • Preference of the Child: Who the child wants to live with is always a factor, but it becomes more important as the child gets older. Clearly, the wishes of a four to 4-6-year-old will not be given as much weight as those of a 14-16-year-old.

Allocation of Parental Responsibility   

In Florida, the term “child custody” is being phased out by the terms “parental responsibility” and “parental time sharing.” The state wants both parents to be involved in the lives of their children, unless there is a compelling reason why one (or both) should not be. As such, child custody is now more about the allocation of parental responsibility and working out a time-sharing schedule that is feasible for both parents.

Parental responsibility is the decision-making component of child custody, and it covers several areas, such as:

  • Education
  • Health Care
  • Religious Upbringing
  • Extracurricular Activities

Florida courts offer three types of parental responsibility:

  • Shared Parental Responsibility: This is the most frequently ordered form of parental responsibility, and the one the court prefers to grant unless it finds a reason to believe that this arrangement would be detrimental to the child. With shared parental responsibility, both parents confer and make all major decisions jointly regarding the child’s well-being. Under this scenario, parents must be able to come together and agree on these decisions on their own. Otherwise, the court will have to revisit the arrangement.
  • Shared Parental Responsibility with Decision-Making: This arrangement is similar to shared parental responsibility in that parents must jointly confer and try to make decisions together for the well-being of the child. The main difference is that in this scenario, one parent has ultimate decision-making authority over certain areas if they cannot agree. For example, a parenting plan may state that the mother has ultimate decision-making authority for health care decisions, but the father has ultimate authority over academic decisions.
  • Sole Parental Responsibility: With this arrangement, one parent has sole authority to make all decisions regarding the child’s well-being. The granting of sole parental responsibility must be in the best interests of the child, and it is only done in cases in which a shared arrangement would be detrimental to the child. Examples may include a parent with a substance abuse problem, mental health issues, or a history of domestic violence or abuse.

Parental Time Sharing

Time sharing is the part of the custody arrangement that deals with where the child will live and setting up a visitation schedule. There are three forms of time sharing:

  • Majority Time Sharing: This is the most common scenario in which one parent has the child for the majority of overnights throughout the year. For example, if a child spends the week with her mother and the weekends with her father, the mother has majority time sharing.
  • Equal Time Sharing: As the term indicates, each parent has the child for an equal number of overnights during the years. For example, a child who alternates living with each parent from week to week.
  • Supervised Time Sharing: In rare cases in which it can be shown that either of the other two other scenarios is detrimental to the child, supervised time sharing might be ordered. Again, this only occurs in cases when one parent has issues such as mental illness, substance abuse, domestic violence, etc.

Speak with a Knowledgeable and Compassionate Pensacola Child Custody Attorney

At the Law Offices of Whibbs, Stone & Barnett, P.A., we understand the emotional impact a child custody case can have on a loving parent, and we are committed to providing skilled legal guidance and moral support during this difficult time. We work closely with our clients, taking the time to listen and fully understand their needs and concerns, so we are fully informed and able to advocate for a parenting plan that is in-keeping with yours and your children’s best interests. For a personalized consultation with one of our experienced attorneys, contact us today at 850-500-1111 or send us a message through our web contact form. You may also stop by our Pensacola office.

Whibbs Stone Barnett Turner, PA

Pensacola Office
801 W. Romana St., Unit C
Pensacola, FL 32502
Maps & Directions

Ft. Walton Beach
28 Walter Martin Rd.
Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32548
Maps & Directions

Fairhope, Alabama
108 Professional Park Dr.
Fairhope, AL 36532
Maps & Directions

With offices in Pensacola, Fort Walton/Destin, and Mobile, Alabama, we serve people across much of the Florida panhandle and the Gulf Coast. We offer a free consultation for all personal injury claims and always strive to provide high-quality legal services at reasonable, affordable rates.

  • Home
  • Firm Overview
  • Attorneys
  • Practice Areas
  • FAQs
  • Blog
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Site Map

Pensacola Office
801 W. Romana St., Unit C
Pensacola, FL 32502
Call: 850-500-1111
Fax: (850) 469-0043

Maps & Directions

Whibbs Stone Barnett Turner, PA  Attorneys at Law, is located in Pensacola, FL, and serves clients in Pace, Milton, Gulf Breeze, Pensacola Beach, Navarre, Cantonment, Molino, Crestview, Niceville, Fort Walton Beach, Mobile, Hurlburt Field, Eglin Air Force Base, Theodore, Irvington, Satsuma, Saint Elmo, Bucks, Grand Bay, Baldwin, Gonzalez, Valparaiso, Escambia and Okaloosa Counties.

Get In Touch

Hours of Operation:
Mon – Thurs: 8 am – 5 pm
Friday: 8 am – 12 pm
Weekends: By appointment only

Call: 850-500-1111
Fax: (850) 469-0043

Follow Us

ATTORNEY ADVERTISING
This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.

© 2023 Whibbs Stone Barnett Turner, PA All Rights Reserved. This is a Sundown Legal Marketing law firm website.
Scroll to top