Under Florida law, there is no presumption of 50/50 timesharing for divorced parents. However, with many parents splitting time with their children under a 50/50 time-sharing schedule, divorced dads play a large role in childrearing that goes far beyond simply acting as a financial provider.

Schedules for 50/50 timesharing are frequently tailored to meet a family’s unique circumstances and the ages and needs of the children. A week-on/week-off schedule may mean that dad and mom alternate having the children for seven overnights in a row. Weekly time-sharing could also be broken up, with dad having Mondays and Tuesdays, mom having Wednesdays and Thursdays, and then alternating weekends. Or, the family may come up with a completely customized schedule.

Whatever the schedule, 50/50 timesharing provides fathers with a significant role in the raising of their children. During their parenting time, fathers are responsible for handling all child-related tasks, including school pick-up and drop-off, dinner, baths, homework, doctor’s appointments, extracurricular activities and the like. By providing an environment of love and stability, fathers can take this time together to build a strong relationship with their child, even amid the often-difficult times of a divorce.

This Father’s Day, we recognize and celebrate the contributions that fathers, stepfathers, and other father-figures make in the lives of their family and to the well-being of our entire community.