Jacksonville Child Custody Attorney
Jacksonville Child Custody Attorneys Who Put Your Children First
When parents separate or divorce, the most important decisions involve your children. At Phillips, Hunt & Walker, our Jacksonville child custody attorneys understand the stakes. We are committed to helping you reach a custody arrangement that truly serves your children’s best interests — whether through a negotiated parenting plan or contested litigation.
Understanding Florida Child Custody Law
Florida law uses the term “time-sharing” rather than custody and visitation. Courts are guided by the principle of the best interests of the child when determining time-sharing arrangements and parental responsibility. Florida courts generally favor arrangements that allow both parents to remain active and meaningful participants in a child’s life.
Factors courts consider include:
- Each parent’s ability to facilitate a close relationship between the child and the other parent
- The child’s relationship with each parent, siblings, and other family members
- The moral fitness, mental health, and physical health of each parent
- The child’s school, home, and community record
- Each parent’s capacity to meet the child’s needs and developmental requirements
- Evidence of domestic violence, abuse, or neglect
- The child’s reasonable preferences, depending on age and maturity
Types of Custody Arrangements in Florida
Shared parental responsibility — both parents share decision-making for major life decisions — is the default in Florida. Sole parental responsibility is awarded only when shared responsibility would be detrimental to the child. A detailed parenting plan governs the day-to-day time-sharing schedule.
Custody Modifications
Life changes. If there has been a substantial change in circumstances since your original parenting plan was established, you may be able to seek a modification. Our attorneys regularly handle relocation disputes, modification petitions, and enforcement of existing court orders.
Why Choose Phillips, Hunt & Walker?
Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Marital and Family Law, attorney Matthew Hunt has built his reputation in Jacksonville by treating every family law case with the seriousness and care it deserves. Board Certification is the Florida Bar’s highest recognition of attorney competence — Matt is among the youngest in the state to have achieved it. We listen. We plan. We fight when fighting is what your family needs.
In 2025, John Phillips was named one of the Top 200 Lawyers in America and one of the Top 20 Lawyers in Florida by the Forbes Editorial Board — editorial and peer-reviewed, not pay-to-play. He holds the third-most state bar licenses of any attorney in the country and has been called “the best lawyer in America” by famed attorney Robert Shapiro.
We serve clients throughout Jacksonville, Orange Park, Fleming Island, Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Augustine, and all of Duval and surrounding counties.
Free Consultation — Call (904) 444-4444
Custody disputes are emotionally intense and legally complex. The sooner you have experienced counsel on your side, the better your position. Contact us at (904) 444-4444 or reach out online for a free, confidential consultation.