Top 5 Time Sharing Calendar Programs for Co-Parenting
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Learning how to co-parent can be challenging. To manage it well, you need to be flexible, patient, able to compromise, and you should use every type of support you can get. This is where a great co-parenting app comes in handy.

When your kid(s) are going back and forth between your ex-partner’s house and yours, organization is essential. So how can you pull this off? Co-parenting apps are there to make your life just a little easier. These are some of the highly recommended options:

1. The Family Core

This app is great, not just for co-parents but caregivers in general. It allows anyone you choose to access your kid’s schedule, so you can together more easily organize parenting time or drop-offs and pickups, doctors’ appointments, school events, etc. And it is completely customizable.

2. 2houses

This app provides a way to communicate with your ex-partner when phone, text, or email are not working. The app helps parents keep track of all activities, schedules, and exchange information concerning their kid(s), from school appointments to medical notes. 2houses also provides a messaging option, mediator access, and document storage, both for iOS and Android.

3. Cozi

This award-winning program lets you create a shared calendar, shopping and to-do lists, and meal plans. With its cool features and easy-to-use interface, Cozi is one of the best co-parenting apps available.

4. Coparently

This app offers all the tools you need to make co-parenting as simple as possible, with its color-coded custody calendars, records for shared expenses, a secure messenger, and a shared online directory for all important contact information (doctors, babysitters, friends). Coparently lets you add your kid(s) to the account so they can use it to communicate with you, but they won’t have access to other features.

5. Our Family Wizard

This app is an online tool designed specifically for co-parents. It lets parents manage all aspects of their shared parenting agreement in one space, from calendars and schedules to expenses. Our Family Wizard also provides Apple and Android users apps for communication on the go.

6. Custody X Change

This app was developed by legal professionals, and it tracks the time each parent spends with their kid(s). Custody X Change’s features include time-stamped journal entries, expenses tracking options, and communication tools designed to help co-parents uphold their custody plan.

7. Talking Parents

This smart app was designed to increase the accountability of co-parents while reducing conflict. It tracks communication between co-parents and provides features like shared calendars, communications, and documents, all stored as unchangeable records that you can access and use later if needed.

8. WeParent

The creator of WeParent, who received a Ph.D. in Psychology, used psychological research to create an app that reduces stress and conflict in divorced parents’ relationships. It helps you manage appointments and events, documents, custody schedules, expenses, and messaging. The goal is to minimize or eliminate conflicts and help parents focus on raising healthy and happy kids.

If you have questions about divorce, child support, shared parental responsibility, time-sharing/parenting time, and parenting plans, contact Debora A. Diaz Esquire at 727-846-1802 to schedule a consultation or use the Scheduling Link: https://deboradiazlawscheduling.as.me/.

At this time, all consultations are by telephone or video conferencing in order to protect our staff and clients.

Attorney Diaz practices exclusively in divorce and family law in Florida. Debora A. Diaz is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator.

Written by Debora A. Diaz, Esquire.

Best Interest Children Florida Statute 61.13
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In cases of marriage dissolution or petition for paternity, parents who will share time with their minor child or children are required by Florida law to have a written parenting plan. For it to be approved by the court, it must detail a plan of how the parents will share responsibilities in daily parenting tasks, health care, school-related matters, and other activities. The parenting plan should also outline the child’s time-sharing schedule and the communication methods and technologies that the parents will use to communicate with each other and the child.

However, when it comes to the negotiation and agreement of shared parental responsibility and time-sharing/parenting time in a child custody matter, decisions are not made by whichever parent or primary caregiver has spent the most time with the child. While they may feel they know the child best, a judge ultimately makes decisions in child custody disputes using the “best interests of the child” as the primary consideration if the parties are not in agreement.

What does “best interests of the child” in Florida mean? 

Florida Statute 61.13(3) provides a list of 20 factors to help determine “the best interests of the child.” The judge may consider any factor that is relevant to the individual situation. The 20 factors can be categorized under the demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to fulfill parenting responsibilities, the health and safety of the child, the child’s emotional and developmental needs, and the moral fitness of each parent. Here is a summary of the 20 factors:

1. Demonstrated capacity and disposition to honor the time-sharing schedule and maintain a close parent-child relationship
2. The anticipated division of parental responsibilities
3. Demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to act upon the needs of the child
4. Length of time the child has lived in a stable environment
5. Geographic viability of the parenting plan
6. Moral fitness of the parents
7. Mental and physical health of the parents
8. The child’s home, school, and community record
9. The child’s preference
10. Demonstrated knowledge of each parent to be informed and involved in the child’s life, including knowing the child’s friends, daily activities, and favorite things
11. Demonstrated capacity of each parent to provide a consistent routine
12. Demonstrated capacity of each parent to communicate with the other parent
13. Evidence of domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, child abandonment, or child neglect
14. Evidence that either parent has knowingly provided false information to the court
15. The extent of the parenting tasks performed by each parent
16. Demonstrated capacity of each parent to be involved in the child’s school and extracurricular activities
17. Demonstrated capacity of each parent to maintain a substance-free environment for the child
18. The capacity of each parent to protect the child from ongoing litigation
19. Demonstrated capacity of each parent to meet the child’s developmental needs
20. Any other factors relevant to the parenting plan, including the time-sharing schedule.

What Happens if Parties do not Reach Agreement? 

I must stress that if the parties cannot reach an agreement on shared parental responsibility and time-sharing ultimately, the judge will determine parenting arrangements in child custody cases based on the “best interests of the child,” giving weight to parents who have demonstrated capacity and disposition to also put the child’s best interests first.

If you need help understanding the factors that determine the “best interests of the child” and what you can do to prove your capacity and disposition, consult a divorce and family law attorney.

I have over 25 years of experience in the practice of family and marital law in the state of Florida. If you have questions about divorce, child support, shared parental responsibility, time-sharing/parenting time, and parenting plans, contact Debora A. Diaz Esquire at 727-846-1802 to schedule a consultation or use the Scheduling Link: https://deboradiazlawscheduling.as.me/.

At this time, all consultations are by telephone or remote video conferencing in order to protect our staff and clients.

Attorney Diaz practices exclusively in divorce and family law in Florida. Debora A. Diaz is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator

www.deboradiazlaw.com What is a Guardian Ad Litem

In the state of Florida, a guardian ad litem is typically appointed in certain high-conflict cases between parents regarding the well-being of their child or children. The role of the guardian ad litem is governed by Florida’s statute 61.403. The guardian ad litem helps investigate the dispute and ensures that the child’s best interests are fully protected. If a guardian ad litem is appointed in your case, then it’s vital that you understand their role in the process.

Definition

As previously mentioned, under Florida law, a guardian ad litem is a person appointed by the court who is tasked with acting as a child’s ‘next friend.’ While the guardian’s duty is to protect the child’s best interest, guardian ad litem is not a child’s advocate or lawyer. The best way is to think of a guardian ad litem as an evaluator or an investigator.

What Does a Guardian ad Litem Do?

In short, a guardian ad litem (GAL) is a fact finder.  The GAL is an investigator who works on behalf of the court, with the purpose of determining what is best for the child in the case. A guardian ad litem may conduct interviews with parents, and they may also speak to the child directly. Their investigation is detailed, so, as a parent, make sure to keep open communication and a respectful and positive relationship.

What is Florida’s ‘Best Interest of the Child’ Standard?

Under Florida law, family law courts look to the ‘best interest of the child’ legal standard. As such, it can make judgments in child custody and time-sharing disputes. The guardian ad litem is in essence a neutral party who will work to ensure that a child’s physical safety, emotional well-being, and psychological health are adequately protected.

The guardian ad litem can help the court by obtaining any required expert examinations from doctors, dentists, therapists, or psychologists. Aside from the child, he or she can request the court to order expert examinations of the child’s parents, as well as other interested parties. The guardian ad litem can also request the court to provide access to any of those reports or ask the court to order examinations of other parties, such as parents.

The Thoughts of the Guardian ad Litem

An appointed guardian ad litem can comment on any proposed agreement between the parents that can affect the child. A guardian ad litem can, through counsel, be present at any proceeding, including hearings and depositions. He or she can also require the attendance of witnesses through counsel.

The Florida court relies on the guardian’s opinion and takes his or her recommendation very seriously. However, the judge makes the final decision. In other words, a court cannot delegate decisions to a guardian ad litem, for the supreme authority belongs to the judge.

Takeaway

The guardian ad litem’s ultimate goal is to advocate for the best interests of the child or children. He or she is not appointed for the interests of either parent or any other party.

If you would like to discuss the specifics of your divorce or paternity case or need help with other family law issues call Debora A. Diaz Esquire at 727-846-1802 to schedule a consultation or use the Scheduling Link: https://deboradiazlawscheduling.as.me/.  At this time, all consultations are by telephone or video conferencing in order to protect our staff and clients.

Attorney Diaz practices exclusively in divorce and family law in Florida. Debora A. Diaz is also a Florida Supreme Court Certified Family Mediator and she has served as a guardian ad litem in many cases.