The Office of Family Courts' Domestic Violence Team supports several regional trainings each year designed for judicial officers to learn more about advanced topics in interpersonal violence. Most of the trainings below are 2 hours long.

Shifting the Paradigm: Guidance for Addressing Domestic Abuse in Child Custody Matters

Presented September 29, 2023

An overview of the newly released Revised Chapter Four on Children and Families of the Model Code on Domestic and Family Violence, by NCJFCJ Faculty, and an overview of the new Florida Statute – Greyson’s Law, that took effect on July 1, 2023 presented by Judges Carroll Kelly and Elisabeth Espinosa, 11th Judicial Circuit.

This workshop includes a moderated discussion highlighting core sections of the revised Chapter, including a definition of domestic abuse and approaches to determining the best interest of the child. The workshop describes the step-by-step analysis outlined in the Chapter to assist family court practitioners and judicial officers in recognizing the effects of domestic abuse on the child, the safety of the abused parent, and the implications of such effects on crafting parenting time orders that reflect the best interest of the child and meet the unique needs of the family. 

As a result of this workshop, participants will be better able to:

• Describe the proposed analysis for assessing best interest of a child in cases involving domestic abuse.
• Identify context for the proposed approaches for creating parenting time orders in cases involving domestic abuse.
• Describe how Greyson’s Law should be applied in Florida.

Judges that watch the entirety of this training are eligible to receive 2 CJE’s by contacting CJEMail@551yule.com and referencing course number 23-139. Magistrates and attorneys may contact the Florida Bar and receive 2 CLE’s by referencing course # 2308679N.