When parents in Florida separate, they must create a plan that focuses on their child’s safety, care and daily routine. However, courts cannot always make a final decision right away. Judges often need time to review the facts, understand each parent’s situation and determine what will best support the child. Temporary custody orders provide a short-term plan to guide parents and protect the child while the case moves forward.
What are temporary orders?
Temporary orders create a short-term parenting plan that parents must follow. This plan protects the child and gives them stability right away.
Florida law says a temporary parenting plan must include three things:
- A time-sharing schedule that shows when the child spends time with each parent
- Which parent will make important choices about school and health care
- A set method for how parents will communicate
Judges use temporary orders when parents cannot agree or when safety concerns exist. Those concerns might include violence, drug abuse or a home that is not safe. These orders help prevent fights and keep the child’s routine steady while the court reviews the case.
How do final orders work?
Judges issue final custody orders after reviewing all the facts. They consider what is in the best interests of the child under Florida Statute § 61.13(3). These factors include safety, home stability, caregiving history and each parent’s support of the child’s bond with the other parent.
Final orders remain in place for a long time. A parent who wants to change the plan must prove that something major and unexpected happened. They must also show that the new plan will better support the child.
Helping children stay secure
Parents who understand both temporary and long-term orders can make choices that protect their child and support a stable future.