Quick answer: Florida presumes, rebuttably, that equal time-sharing is in a child’s best interests, and it orders shared parental responsibility unless that would be detrimental to the child. For child support, a parent with at least 20% of the overnights, 73 a year, has a substantial amount of time, and the support amount is adjusted.
This Florida parenting time calculator turns a schedule into overnights a year and a percentage, then compares it with the 20 percent line in Fla. Stat. 61.30(11)(b). Enter the overnights in a 14-day cycle and any extra nights: the result is arithmetic, and the court decides time-sharing and support.
Florida parenting time and custody rules at a glance
| Rule | What Florida says |
|---|---|
| Best interests | The best interests of the child are the primary consideration for parental responsibility, the parenting plan and the time-sharing schedule (Fla. Stat. 61.13(3)) |
| Equal time-sharing | Rebuttable presumption that equal time-sharing is in the child’s best interests, rebutted by a preponderance of the evidence (61.13(2)(c)1) |
| Parental responsibility | Shared parental responsibility is ordered unless it would be detrimental to the child (61.13(2)(c)2) |
| Factors | Twenty listed factors, from each parent’s support of the child’s relationship with the other to the child’s developmental needs (61.13(3)(a)-(t)) |
| Child support | A parent with at least 20% of the overnights of the year has a substantial amount of time and support is adjusted (61.30(11)(b)8) |
| Moving | A move of at least 50 miles for at least 60 consecutive days needs an agreement or a petition to relocate; the relocating parent has the burden (61.13001) |
How do custody and parenting time work in Florida?
- Equal time-sharing and parental responsibility. See equal time-sharing and parental responsibility in Florida.
- Schedules. See parenting time schedules in Florida.
- Moving with a child. See moving away with a child in Florida.
What does this parenting time calculator check?
You enter the overnights the other parent has in a typical 14-day cycle and any extra overnights a year, such as summer and holidays. The calculator scales the cycle to 365 nights, adds the extras, and shows the overnights and percentage for each parent, whether both are at or above 20% (73 overnights) and whether the split is equal. It does not calculate child support: use the Florida child support calculator for that, and the Florida divorce timeline calculator for the dates of the case. Florida uses the word time-sharing instead of custody.
Frequently asked questions
Does Florida presume equal time-sharing?
Yes, rebuttably. There is a presumption that equal time-sharing is in the child’s best interests, which a party can rebut by a preponderance of the evidence.
How many overnights is substantial time for Florida child support?
At least 20% of the overnights of the year, which is 73 overnights.
Does shared time change Florida child support?
Yes. When each parent has a substantial amount of time, the guideline amounts are multiplied by 1.5 and offset by overnight percentages.
Does domestic violence affect Florida time-sharing?
It is a best-interest factor and can show that shared parental responsibility would be detrimental to the child.
Does this Florida calculator set child support?
No. It counts overnights; the Florida child support calculator estimates the guideline amount.