Parenting Plans After Divorce in Florida

Concern for the children is typically the primary concern for both parents in a divorce. A Parenting Plan is required in all cases involving time-sharing with minor children. This is true even when time-sharing is not in dispute. The Parenting Plan determines the details and logistics of shared parental responsibility. The Parenting Plan must be agreed to by the parents and by the court. In situations where the parents cannot agree on a plan, or the court will not agree to the proposed plan, then the court has the power to establish a Parenting Plan.

Florida Parenting Plans are designed to address the challenges facing parents and minor children before and after dissolution of marriage. A Parenting Plan addresses a number of issues, including:

• Details of how the parents will share the daily tasks of raising the child.
• The time-sharing schedule that outlines the time the child will spend with each parent.
• Designation of who will be responsible for school-related matters.
• Designation of who will be responsible for medical and health care related decisions.
• The methods and technologies that the parents will use to communicate with the child.

These are the issues that a Parenting Plan must address at a minimum. Though there are several other issues that a Parenting Plan can address, like details on how other issues related to raising the child will be handled.

The Best Time-Sharing Situation for the Child

Florida’s family laws focus on providing the best time-sharing situation for the child and encourages both parents to spend an ample and appropriate amount of time with their children. The law seeks to encourage parents to share the rights and responsibilities of raising children. Unless it is established through the court that equal time-sharing would be detrimental to the children, both parents should have equal rights to the children.

The Florida Bar published a Divorce in Florida Pamphlet that offers an overview of the dissolution of marriage and Parenting Plans. You can view the pamphlet here.

At the Draper Law Office, we work on all aspects of child custody cases. Our attorneys provide representation during the dissolution of marriage, in time-sharing agreements, and the establishment or modification of shared parental responsibility.

To learn more about your legal rights during child custody matters, contact us today online or call 866-767-4711. We proudly serve the greater Central Florida area with offices located in Kissimmee, and Orlando.