50/50 Custody in Florida: What Equal Time-Sharing Means for Parents
October 20, 2025
When parents separate or divorce, determining how to share parenting time is one of the most important — and emotional — decisions they’ll face. In Florida, recent changes to family law have created a legal presumption that 50/50 custody, or equal time-sharing, is in the best interests of the child.
At Jodat Law Group, our experienced Florida family law attorneys help parents understand their rights and create custody arrangements that protect both the child and the parent–child relationship.
What Is 50/50 Custody in Florida?
50/50 custody, also called equal time-sharing, means both parents spend an approximately equal amount of time with their child and share major parenting responsibilities.
This arrangement includes:
- Physical custody: where the child lives day-to-day
- Parental responsibility: making joint decisions about education, health care, and other important matters
The intent behind 50/50 custody is to keep both parents actively involved in raising the child, ensuring stability and emotional balance after a separation or divorce.
Florida’s 2023 Equal Time-Sharing Law
In 2023, Florida lawmakers passed a significant update to the state’s time-sharing laws. The statute now creates a rebuttable presumption that equal time-sharing is in a child’s best interest.
This means that courts begin with the assumption of a 50/50 schedule unless one parent can present clear evidence showing that such an arrangement would be harmful to the child.
Circumstances that might overcome this presumption include:
- Domestic violence or abuse
- Substance abuse or neglect
- Unstable living situations
- Significant distance between parents’ homes
If one parent demonstrates that equal time-sharing would not serve the child’s welfare, the court can award a different arrangement.
How Courts Determine Time-Sharing in Florida
Even with the 50/50 presumption, Florida judges evaluate each case based on what serves the child’s best interests under Florida Statute §61.13.
Some of the main factors include:
- Each parent’s capacity to provide for the child’s needs
- The moral, mental, and physical fitness of each parent
- The child’s school and community ties
- Each parent’s willingness to encourage a healthy relationship with the other parent
- Any history of domestic violence or substance abuse
- The stability of each home environment
- The child’s preference, depending on age and maturity
Every family situation is unique, and the court’s goal is always to promote a safe, loving, and stable environment for the child.
Examples of 50/50 Custody Schedules
A 50/50 custody arrangement doesn’t always mean splitting time evenly every week. Courts and parents can create flexible schedules that fit work, school, and activity needs.
Some common equal time-sharing schedules include:
- Alternating weeks: Each parent has the child for one full week at a time.
- 2-2-3 schedule: Two days with one parent, two days with the other, then alternating weekends.
- 3-4-4-3 schedule: Alternates between three and four days weekly with each parent.
- Split-week schedule: One parent has the child for the first half of the week, the other for the second half.
These options aim to minimize disruption and help the child maintain consistency in school and home life.
When 50/50 Custody May Not Be the Best Option
While Florida courts now begin with the presumption that 50/50 custody is best, this arrangement isn’t suitable in every case. A court may award majority time-sharing to one parent if:
- There’s a documented history of abuse or neglect
- A parent struggles with addiction or criminal behavior
- The parents live too far apart for an equal schedule
- There is ongoing, high-conflict communication that impacts the child
- One parent cannot provide a stable or safe living environment
The primary consideration will always be the child’s well-being.
Benefits of Equal Time-Sharing
When both parents can cooperate, 50/50 custody offers many benefits:
- The child maintains strong, consistent relationships with both parents
- Shared financial and emotional responsibilities
- Reduced parental conflict over visitation
- Balanced parental involvement in school, sports, and daily life
- Emotional stability and security for the child
At Jodat Law Group, we often find that equal time-sharing arrangements can lead to better co-parenting relationships and healthier outcomes for children.
Why Choose Jodat Law Group for Your Custody Case
Custody disputes are deeply personal and legally complex. Having an experienced Florida family law attorney on your side can make all the difference.
At Jodat Law Group, we have decades of experience helping parents in Sarasota, Bradenton, Venice, and across Southwest Florida protect their parental rights and craft custody arrangements that serve the child’s best interests.
Our legal team can:
- Help you understand your rights under Florida’s 50/50 custody law
- Guide you through mediation or negotiation
- Draft or modify a parenting plan
- Represent you in court if needed
- Advocate for a fair and balanced time-sharing schedule
Contact Jodat Law Group Today
If you’re facing a custody dispute or need guidance on Florida’s 50/50 time-sharing law, don’t navigate the process alone.
Contact Jodat Law Group today for a free consultation. Our compassionate and experienced family law attorneys in Sarasota, Bradenton, and Venice are here to protect your rights — and your child’s future.
📞 Call 877-563-AT-LAW (2852) or visit www.jodatlawgroup.com to schedule your consultation.
