Child Custody Lawyer In Florida

Children First,

Strategy Always

When divorce involves children, the questions become more personal, more emotional, and often more complicated than expected. How will holidays work? Who makes medical decisions? What happens if the other parent refuses to cooperate? These are important details that shape the rhythm of your family after divorce.

At Leap Frog Divorce, we help Florida parents approach custody decisions with clear strategy, experienced guidance, and a deep understanding of how divorce affects the whole family.

You need more than a generic parenting plan. You need guidance built around your family, your concerns, and the next chapter you are trying to protect. Here, you are not treated like a case number. You get direct attention from a divorce-focused team that helps you make thoughtful decisions from day one.

A Smarter Way Through Divorce

Not every case needs to become a fight. We help you explore resolution where possible—and prepare you when it’s not.

Is Leap Frog Divorce Right For You?

Leap Frog Divorce may be the right fit if:

You are worried about how divorce will affect your children
You need help creating or negotiating a parenting plan
You want to understand Florida’s custody terminology and what it means in real life
You are concerned the other parent may not cooperate
You want to protect your child’s stability without escalating conflict
You need a strategy for time-sharing, parental responsibility, holidays, school breaks, and communication
You believe your child may not be safe or stable under a standard arrangement
You want a divorce-focused lawyer who understands both negotiation and litigation
You want clear guidance without being pushed into a fight that does not serve your child

What To Know

Child Custody In Florida

Custody can feel overwhelming because every decision seems connected to something else: your child’s routine, your work schedule, school breaks, and communication with the other parent. Here are a few things many Florida parents don’t realize at the beginning.

01. Florida Uses Different Terminology

Parents often say “custody,” but Florida uses the term “parental responsibility” to describe who makes decisions for the child. Parents often use the word “visitation” to describe when a parent has time with their child. In Florida, the word “time-sharing” is used in reference to the “overnights” each parent has with the child.

The words used in court may not match the words you use at home, but part of our job is helping you understand what those terms mean in real life.

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A Calmer Way Through Custody

Custody and visitation decisions can quickly become a tangle of emotions, schedules, school routines, financial concerns, and legal standards. When everything is sitting in your head at once, it can feel impossible to know what to do next.

A thoughtful legal strategy gives each decision a purpose.

With the right guidance, you can:

Organize the facts that matter
Identify what is urgent and what can be handled through negotiation
Protect your child’s stability
Reduce conflict where possible
Prepare for court if resolution is not possible
Create a parenting plan that is specific enough to reduce future disputes
Get clarity about your next step instead of reacting to every new message or threat

You can protect your children, your relationship with them, and your future without burning down your life in the process.

Key Issues

The Decisions That Shape Child Custody In Florida

Time-Sharing

Time-sharing determines when your child spends an overnight with each parent, but the “right” schedule is not just a math problem. School, work, transportation, extracurriculars, your child’s age, and how they handle transitions should all be considered.

Before agreeing to a schedule, it helps to think through how it will actually work during normal weeks, busy seasons, school breaks, and unexpected changes.

Parental Responsibility

Parental responsibility addresses how major decisions are made for your child, including education, healthcare, religion, and activities. Some parents can make those decisions together. Others need more structure because communication is difficult, trust has broken down, or one parent tends to control the conversation.

A parenting plan should make it clear how decisions will be handled before every issue becomes a new argument.

The presumption in Florida law is shared parental responsibility.

Holiday and Vacation Time

Holiday and vacation time often creates more conflict than parents expect because it overrides the normal routine. A regular weekend schedule may change because of Thanksgiving, winter break, spring break, birthdays, or planned travel.

A strong parenting plan should define exactly when holidays begin and end, how breaks are divided, and how exchanges will happen so both parents know what to expect.

School And Extracurriculars

School and extracurriculars can shape transportation, expenses, communication, homework routines, parent involvement, and even where a child spends certain nights. These details become more important as children get older and their schedules become more demanding.

Before finalizing a plan, it helps to think through who will handle school communication, activity costs, practices, appointments, and schedule changes.

Communication Between Parents

Some parents can text casually and stay organized. Others do better written expectations, tighter boundaries, or a co-parenting app.

The goal is to create a system that keeps communication focused on the child and helps keep adult conflict from spilling into the child’s life.

Safety And Stability Concerns

Florida courts start from the idea that children should have equal time with both parents. But 50/50 child custody can be determined by the courts to not be in the best interests of the child. Serious concerns like substance abuse, domestic violence, neglect, unsafe living conditions, or repeated boundary violations may cause the court to consider a different arrangement.

When safety is an issue, the strategy should focus on facts, documentation, patterns, and how the concern affects your child’s well-being.

A Better Parenting Plan Starts Here

A parenting plan is easier to live with when the details are handled before there is a problem.

Holidays, school breaks, transportation, travel, activities, schedule changes, and parent communication may not feel urgent when you are focused on getting through the divorce. But those are often the details parents end up fighting about later.

At Leap Frog Divorce, we work through those questions with you on the front end because the goal is not just to finish the case. The goal is to help you avoid confusion, reduce future conflict where possible, and create a plan that actually works in your family’s real life.

That does not mean making the plan rigid or unreasonable. It means thinking through the moments that are most likely to create stress later, so you are not left trying to solve them in the middle of an argument.

How It Works

Child Custody, Step By Step

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What If the Other Parent Doesn’t Cooperate?

Some custody cases become harder because the other parent refuses to communicate clearly, changes plans, ignores boundaries, withholds information, or turns routine decisions into conflict.

Leap Frog Divorce is experienced in dispute resolution, but we are not unfamiliar with litigation when a case requires it. We know how to work with difficult personalities, high-conflict behavior, and parenting disputes that need more structure, documentation, and legal pressure.

The goal is to keep the focus on your child, not the conflict. When cooperation is possible, we help you work toward it. When it is not, we are prepared to protect your interests and present the issues clearly.

Always On Your Side

Leap Frog Divorce focuses on family law issues only. No criminal cases. No personal injury matters. No immigration. No real estate closings on the side. Every attorney on our team is focused on helping people move through divorce and divorce-related issues.

A.J. and Kiki Grossman both earned Master of Laws from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine Caruso School of Law, internationally recognized as one of the top law-school-based conflict resolution programs in the country. A.J. brings courtroom experience and Florida Supreme Court certification as a Family Mediator. Kiki brings corporate conflict resolution experience as Lead Conflict Resolution Specialist. Banda Nadeau brings her own wealth of experience as an advanced collaborative divorce practitioner, Florida Supreme Court certified Family Mediator, and experienced litigator.

Together, they bring a broad and rooted understanding of both conflict resolution and the decisions that shape child custody cases.

These are the beliefs that drive how we practice.

Children Come First

Custody is not about punishing the other parent or winning for the sake of winning. It is about protecting your child’s safety, stability, emotional health, and future.

We keep the focus where it belongs.

Strategy Before Reaction

Custody issues can trigger fear quickly. We help clients pause, organize the facts, and make decisions based on strategy rather than panic.

Strong advocacy does not have to be reckless. It should be thoughtful, prepared, and purposeful.

Direct Attention Matters

Your future is too important to trust to a volume-based firm that treats every call like a file lookup. Your children, your history, and your concerns deserve to be known.

At Leap Frog Divorce, you receive direct attention from a divorce-focused team that understands the human and legal weight of custody decisions.

Testimonials

Legal Excellence Through Client Experiences.

Our clients’ words reflect what matters most to us: clarity, trust, and guidance through one of life’s hardest transitions.

John Needle in a Haystack

Finding the right law firm, the right attorney, can be like finding a needle in a haystack. I found that needle in the haystack with Leapfrog Divorce Law Firm. From their paralegal (Kolby) to my attorney (Banda) I could not have been blessed more by God. The Leap Frog team were always Johnny on the spot for me whenever I needed them.

Jeremy Clear Guidance

From the first moment I talked with AJ, I was given a clear outline of the process, my options, and the costs. Every step of the way, the team was there for me. I worked closely with April on the paperwork. They answered questions quickly, put my mind at ease during a very difficult time, and helped me reach a fair settlement. Thank you.

Alisa Professional and Caring

A.J. Grossman III handled a post-divorce matter for me, and he was kind, thoughtful, and responsive. His professional and caring demeanor provided support and expert guidance. His fee was very fair, and he resolved the matter quickly and efficiently, exactly as I requested. I highly recommend his family law services to anyone in need.

Charlotte Exactly What I Needed

Mr. Grossman was exactly what I wanted and needed in an attorney. He was proficient, professional, and fought for me and what was right. He and his team were always there when I needed them. I would refer him to any family member or friend without question. Awesome job. Thanks again and blessings to you and your circle of love always.

Monica A Lawyer Who Truly Cares

A.J.’s expertise and professionalism are top notch. I appreciated the time and effort he put into my case and my needs. I can’t thank him enough for his empathy, the confidence he gave me, and for listening to everything I shared. He made me feel validated and never made my problems feel minute. An actual lawyer who truly cares.

Kim Kindness and Compassion

A.J. Grossman III and April Phillips were both wonderful during a time of stress and uncertainty. They always treated me with kindness, compassion, and professionalism. I can’t thank them enough for taking my case and providing exceptional legal service and support. I would recommend Leap Frog Divorce to anyone. Outstanding professionals.

Norman Very Pleased With the Outcome

AJ was great to work with. I was nervous about divorce and concerned about reaching an equitable custody arrangement. AJ answered my questions, explained the law, eased my concerns, helped move the divorce along quickly, and made sure the mediated agreement included the things that were important to me. I was very pleased with the outcome.

Jeff Straight A’s Across the Board

Leap Frog gets straight A’s across the board. I worked primarily with April, Attorney A.J. Grossman III’s long-time paralegal. She is exceptionally knowledgeable, experienced, detail oriented, and always carried through with everything she said she would do, while keeping to a very tight timetable during a stressful divorce process.

Our Team

Meet Your Leap Frog Divorce Team

A.J. Grossman III

Attorney at Law • Certified Family Mediator

Kiki Grossman

Lead Conflict Resolution Specialist • Attorney at Law

Banda Nadeau

Attorney at Law • Certified Family Mediator

April Phillips

Litigation & Trial Paralegal • Certified Guardian Ad Litem

Brett Castro

FRP, Discovery Specialist

Brianna Hendricks

Legal Assistant

Frequently Asked Questions About Child Custody In Florida

Can I get full custody in Florida?

Full custody is possible in some circumstances, but it is not granted simply because one parent wants it or because the parents do not get along.

Florida courts focus on the child’s best interests. If you believe the other parent creates a safety or stability concern, the court will need facts and evidence showing why a different arrangement is necessary.

A strong strategy focuses on the child’s well-being, not anger toward the other parent.

Does Florida favor mothers over fathers in custody cases?

No parent should assume they have an automatic advantage because of gender.

Florida courts focus on the best interests of the child, including the child’s needs, stability, safety, routines, and relationship with each parent.

What should be included in a Florida parenting plan?

A parenting plan should address regular time-sharing, holidays, vacations, school breaks, transportation, communication, decision-making, travel, extracurricular activities, medical care, and other details that affect your child’s life.

The more specific the plan is, the less room there may be for future confusion.

What if my spouse refuses to follow the parenting plan?

If the other parent is not following the plan, you have legal options. The right next step depends on what is happening, how often it is happening, how it affects the child, and what documentation exists.

Do not rely on informal arguments or emotional text exchanges alone. Get guidance about how to respond strategically.

Are there tools that can help with co-parenting communication?

Yes. When communication with the other parent is tense, unclear, or difficult to track, we often recommend using a co-parenting app like OurFamilyWizard.

OurFamilyWizard can help keep messages, schedules, expenses, and parenting-related updates in one organized place. It can also reduce confusion about what was said, when plans changed, or whether important information was shared.

The app is not a substitute for a strong parenting plan, but it can be a useful tool when parents need more structure around communication.

Can I use AI for my divorce?

AI can be a helpful place to organize your thoughts or prepare questions, but it can’t understand the full picture of your marriage, your finances, your children, or your goals.

Be careful not to rely on it for legal strategy or share private details in a prompt. For decisions that could affect your future, it’s critical to get guidance that fits your actual Florida divorce.

Take the Next Leap Forward

Talk To a Florida Child Custody Lawyer

Custody decisions are too important to “figure things out” as you go along.

When your children, your future, and your relationship with them are on the line, you deserve a legal team that does one thing—divorce and divorce-related family law—and does it exceptionally well.

At Leap Frog Divorce, you are not treated like a case number. You get direct attention from a divorce-focused team that takes time to understand your family, your concerns, and the strategy needed to protect what matters most.

Schedule a consultation today and get clarity on your next step.