Child Visitation Attorney in St. Petersburg
Protecting Your Time With Your Child—Call (727) 619-1827
When you are worried about when you will see your child next, it is hard to focus on anything else. Florida’s parenting plan and timesharing rules can feel confusing, especially when you are already dealing with conflict at home. A caring child visitation attorney in St. Petersburg can help you understand what is possible and what comes next.
Examples of visitation and timesharing issues we address include:
- Schedule changes that conflict with work, school, or the child’s activities
- One parent refusing to follow a court ordered parenting plan
- Requests for supervised contact or limits on overnight time
- Questions about holiday, summer, and vacation time arrangements
- Relocation or long distance parenting that complicates exchanges
At Plotnick Law Offices, we focus on protecting the parent-child relationship while working within Florida law and local court procedures. Our attorneys have more than 35 years of combined experience, and we take time to learn what matters most to you. When you work with us, you stay with the same attorney from the beginning of your case through its resolution.
Don’t lose another night of time-sharing with your child. Call (727) 619-1827 or reach out online to consult with a child visitation attorney in St. Petersburg.
Understanding Child Visitation and Time-Sharing Laws in Florida
In 2023, Florida enacted a landmark shift in family law that remains the standard in 2026: the 50-50 presumption. Under Florida Statute § 61.13, there is now a rebuttable presumption that equal time-sharing is in the best interest of a minor child. To move away from this 50-50 split, a parent must provide substantial evidence that an equal arrangement would be detrimental to the child.
The Parenting Plan
Every case involving a minor child in Florida must include a court-approved "Parenting Plan." This document is the roadmap for your child's life and must include:
- A Detailed Time-Sharing Schedule: Specifying exactly when the child will be with each parent, including weekends, holidays, and school breaks.
- Parental Responsibility: Determining who makes major decisions regarding education, healthcare, and religious upbringing. Most Florida courts order "Shared Parental Responsibility" unless one parent is proven unfit.
- Communication Methods: Outlining how parents will communicate with each other and how the child will contact the parent they are not currently staying with.
- Logistics: Identifying who is responsible for transportation and the specific "neutral safe exchange" locations if conflict is high.
As your St. Petersburg child visitation lawyer, we ensure your parenting plan is drafted with enough specificity to prevent future loopholes, while remaining flexible enough to accommodate the child's changing needs as they grow.
Why Choose Plotnick Law Offices?
Experience, Commitment, and Personalized Care
As a former prosecutor, we understand how to build strong cases. Our hands-on approach ensures you’re supported every step of the way.
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Experience That Matters
Led by a former prosecutor, Plotnick Law Offices offers unique insights and strategic advantages for every case. Our deep understanding of the legal system ensures that we can effectively advocate for your rights and best interests.
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Relentless Preparation
Success begins with preparation. We leave no stone unturned when investigating and building your case, ensuring that every detail is thoroughly examined to strengthen your position.
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Hands-On Advocacy
When you choose Plotnick Law Offices, you’ll work directly with an experienced attorney from start to finish. We don’t shuffle clients between attorneys—you’ll always have consistent and reliable guidance.
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Personalized Representation
At Plotnick Law Offices, we prioritize building strong, lasting relationships with our clients. We take the time to understand your unique needs and goals, ensuring that your case strategy is tailored to achieve the best possible outcome for you.
What To Expect In A Visitation Case in St. Petersburg
Parents often tell us that the legal process feels mysterious and intimidating. Understanding the basic steps can make everything feel more manageable. Most visitation and timesharing matters begin with a consultation, where we discuss your current schedule, any court orders in place, and what you want to change or protect.
If you decide to move forward, we prepare and file the appropriate documents in the Pinellas County family court. If the other parent has already filed something, we help you respond. The court may set temporary arrangements while your case is pending. Mediation is often required in Florida family law cases, and many parenting plans are resolved there after careful preparation.
When a case does not settle, the judge will hold one or more hearings to review evidence and listen to each parent’s testimony. We help you gather documents, organize your timeline, and prepare to present your perspective in a calm, focused way. Throughout the process, you work with the same attorney, who stays familiar with every detail and keeps you updated as new developments occur.
Here are practical steps you can take right now:
- Keep a written record of missed time, late pickups, or major conflicts
- Communicate with the other parent in writing when possible, and stay child-focused
- Follow existing court orders unless your safety or your child’s safety is at risk
- Gather school, medical, and activity records that show your involvement
We know this process can feel slow and uncertain. Our goal is to make each step clear and help you focus on decisions that support your child’s long-term well-being.
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“I cannot thank you enough for your help, Marc, honestly. I made a stupid mistake and it took you no time to take care of the situation.”- Frank M.
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“I would definitely recommend them to someone in need of any attorney services.”- Priestly V.
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“He is compassionate and helpful.”- Carolyn A.
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“In the end, the result was way over my expectations.”- J. Hughes
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“Quick to respond to communications and always kept me informed during the entire process.”- Michael K.
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“I truly appreciate everything he did and his communication with me was greatly appreciated.”- Tawna L.
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“Nothing is worse than waiting around wondering what’s going to happen to you, which didn’t happen at all after hiring Marc.”- Jared
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“When I tell you they treat you like family, that's no lie!”- Jeffrey B.
Want to learn more about the team behind your case? Visit our About page to meet Marc F. Plotnick and Paul S. Horning, and discover how their experience can make a difference for you.
Consequences for Violating Visitation Orders in St. Petersburg
A court-ordered parenting plan is not a suggestion—it is a legally binding mandate. Violating a time-sharing schedule in Florida carries severe penalties that can permanently alter your parental rights.
- Contempt of Court: A parent who willfully denies visitation can be held in contempt, which may lead to fines or even jail time.
- Makeup Time: The court must award the wronged parent additional time-sharing to compensate for the time they lost.
- Fee Shifting: The violating parent may be ordered to pay the other parent’s attorney's fees and court costs.
- Modification of Custody: If a parent consistently interferes with the other parent's time, the judge may decide that a major change in the parenting plan is necessary, potentially giving the other parent primary or sole residential responsibility.
- Criminal Charges: In extreme cases of "interference with custody," a parent could face criminal prosecution under Florida law.
Why Parents Choose Our Visitation Team
Parents who contact us are often scared, frustrated, and unsure who to trust. They want more than just legal knowledge. They want a lawyer who will listen, remember the details of their family life, and stay involved from start to finish. At our firm, the attorney you meet at the first consultation is the attorney who stands beside you throughout your visitation matter.
Our attorneys have more than 35 years of combined legal experience in family law and related areas. This background helps us handle both routine and complex visitation disputes, including cases that involve claims of domestic violence, substance use, or criminal charges. Some of our attorneys previously worked as prosecutors, which gives us practical insight when allegations could affect contact with your child.
We represent parents from our office in St. Petersburg and from our other locations in Clearwater, Bradenton, and Tampa. This regional presence reflects our long term commitment to the communities we serve. Families choose us because we focus on building lasting relationships and tailoring strategies to the unique needs of each household, rather than treating cases as files on a shelf.
Talk With A St. Petersburg Visitation Lawyer Today
If you are worried about your parenting time, you do not have to face these decisions alone. A visitation lawyer in St. Petersburg can help you understand your rights, navigate Pinellas County court procedures, and work toward a parenting plan that supports your child’s needs and your relationship with them.
At Plotnick Law Offices, we draw on more than 35 years of combined experience, former prosecutor insight, and a commitment to personal, long-term representation. We listen carefully, explain your options in plain language, and stay by your side from the first meeting to the final order.
To schedule a consultation, call (727) 619-1827 or reach out online today.