What is a Parenting Plan?
Posted on Nov 15, 2012 10:20am PST
If you are going through a divorce in Florida and you have one or more
minor children with your spouse, you must create a parenting plan and
have it approved by the court before the divorce is finalized. A parenting
plan is a document developed and agreed to by the parents of a minor child.
If the parents cannot agree over the contents of a parenting plan, then
the court will establish its contents and the parties must follow what
the judge determines is in the child’s best interest.
It is the public policy in Florida that all minor children have frequent
and continuing contact with both parents. With so many decisions that
need to be made in a divorce, very often the parents become frustrated,
stressed, and overwhelmed. And if the parents do not communicate well
with each other, it is almost impossible to work together. A parenting
plan will assist with co-parenting because it will address issues such
as the child’s education, health care, and physical, social, and
emotional well-being, and it must include a time-sharing schedule.
In Florida, a parenting plan must describe in adequate detail how:
- Parents will share and be responsible for the daily tasks associated with
the child;
- Time-sharing schedule arrangements that specify the time that the minor
child will spend with each parent. This can delineate where the child
will live during the week and weekends and who will be responsible for
taking the child to school;
- A designation of who will be responsible for health care;
- All school-related matters;
Regardless of what is included in your parenting plan, it should be clear
and easy to understand. Further, the parenting plan should take into consideration
the child’s best interest.
If you need help with drafting a parenting plan, please contact us at 407-426-5757 or
contact us online. We have Orlando attorneys who know how to help you.