Munoz v. Munoz, Case No. 2D16–1604

• Decision Date: 03 February 2017
• Docket Number: Case No. 2D16–1604
• Citation: 210 So.3d 227
• Parties: Airol MUNOZ, Appellant, v. Paulina MUNOZ, Appellee.
• Court: Florida District Court of Appeals

210 So.3d 227

Airol MUNOZ, Appellant,

v.Paulina MUNOZ, Appellee.

Case No. 2D16–1604

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District.

Opinion filed February 3, 2017

Lawrence J. Hodz of Cortes Hodz Family Law & Mediation, P.A., Tampa, for Appellant.

Jessica C. Tien of Tien Law Group, Tampa, for Appellee.

LUCAS, Judge.

Airol Munoz, the former husband, appeals the circuit court's orders modifying timesharing and establishing child support and arrears concerning his minor children, A.M. and C.M. Mr. Munoz came before the circuit court on his supplemental petition to modify a default final judgment entered on January 8, 2008, which had awarded Paulina Munoz, his former wife, sole parental responsibility and timesharing with A.M. and C.M.¹ In response to the modification petition, Ms. Munoz filed a petition to establish child support and retroactive child support against Mr. Munoz. A trial was held on both petitions before the circuit court on February 5, 2016. The court entered its orders on March 2, 2016, and Mr. Munoz timely appealed.

Although the absence of a transcript from the trial prevents us from addressing many of the issues Mr. Munoz raises on appeal, because there are errors that are plain on the face of the order modifying timesharing, we are compelled to reverse those portions of the circuit court's order. See Ivanovich v. Valladarez , 190 So.3d 1144, 1147 (Fla. 2d DCA 2016) (citing Soto v. Soto , 974 So.2d 403, 404 (Fla. 2d DCA 2007)). The progressive, three-phase daytime timesharing schedule the circuit court fashioned to reintegrate Mr. Munoz in his daughters' lives improperly vests the decision-making authority as to when Mr. Munoz can proceed into the second and third phases solely with a therapist. The order also gives Ms. Munoz sole discretion, at any time, to choose to replace this therapist, which was also an improper delegation of the court's authority. Third, and perhaps most troubling, the order fails to resolve whether Mr. Munoz will ever be entitled to overnight, unrestricted timesharing with his minor children, if or when he completes the third phase of this schedule. Taken together, these errors, which are clear from the face of the order, constituted reversible error.

As we explained in Grigsby v. Grigsby , 39 So.3d 453, 456–57 (Fla. 2d DCA 2010) :

"Although termination of visitation rights is disfavored, ... the trial court has discretion to restrict or deny visitation when necessary to protect the welfare of the children." Hunter v. Hunter , 540 So.2d 235, 238 (Fla. 3d DCA 1989). However, when the court exercises this discretion, it must clearly set forth the steps the parent must take in order to reestablish time-sharing with the children. Id. ; see also Ross v. Botha , 867 So.2d 567, 571 (Fla. 4th DCA 2004). Essentially, the court must give the parent the key to reconnecting with his or her children. An order that does not set forth the specific steps a parent must take to reestablish time-sharing, thus depriving the parent of that key, is deficient because it prevents the parent from knowing what is expected and prevents any successor judge from monitoring the parent's progress. See Ross , 867 So.2d at 571.

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"Moreover, it is the trial court's responsibility to ensure that an appropriate relationship is maintained between a parent and his or her

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