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Florida Parenting Plan Explained
If you are getting divorced in Florida and have minor children, the parenting plan is one of the most important documents in your case.
It explains how parenting will work after the divorce: when the children will spend time with each parent, how important decisions will be handled, how exchanges will work, and other details that can affect everyday family life.
Whether you and your spouse agree on everything or have disagreements that need to be resolved, understanding the parenting plan can make the divorce process much easier to understand.
If you are still trying to understand the bigger picture, start with our Divorce With Children in Florida guide.
What Is a Parenting Plan in Florida?
A Florida parenting plan is a written document that establishes how parents will share responsibilities for their children and how parenting will work after a divorce or separation.
The plan addresses much more than where the children sleep. It can establish the time-sharing schedule, parental responsibilities, communication, transportation, holidays, school breaks and other practical details the parents will need after the divorce.
When parents reach an agreement, their decisions can be incorporated into the parenting plan prepared for their divorce. When they cannot agree, unresolved parenting issues may have to be addressed through mediation or the court.
Is a Parenting Plan Required in a Florida Divorce With Children?
A parenting plan is generally required in Florida divorce cases involving minor children.
This is true even when the parents get along, agree on everything and already have an informal parenting arrangement that works for their family.
The divorce paperwork needs to establish the parenting arrangement that will apply after the marriage is dissolved.
What Does a Florida Parenting Plan Include?
Every family is different, but a parenting plan may address several important areas.
Time-Sharing Schedule
The time-sharing schedule establishes when the children will spend time with each parent.
Depending on the family’s circumstances, the schedule may address:
- Regular weekdays
- Weekends
- School breaks
- Summer vacation
- Holidays
- Birthdays and special occasions
- Pickups and drop-offs
- Transportation between the parents
The goal is to create a schedule that is clear enough that both parents understand when the children are supposed to be with each of them.
Parental Responsibility and Decision-Making
A parenting plan also addresses responsibility for important decisions involving the children.
These decisions can include matters involving:
- Education
- Healthcare
- School-related activities
- Other major decisions affecting the children
Parents preparing an agreed divorce provide the decisions they have made about how these responsibilities will be handled. Divorce in Florida Online does not decide those issues for the parents or provide legal advice about what arrangement they should choose.
Communication With the Children
The parenting plan can address how parents communicate with their children while the children are with the other parent.
Depending on the family’s circumstances, that may include reasonable telephone calls, video calls or other electronic communication.
Transportation and Exchanges
A good parenting plan should make practical issues clear.
For example: Who picks up the children? Where will exchanges occur? Who is responsible for transportation?
Addressing these details in advance can reduce confusion later.
What Is Timesharing in Florida?
When people talk about “custody” or “visitation,” they are often referring to issues Florida family courts address through concepts such as parental responsibility and time-sharing.
Time-sharing refers to the schedule establishing when the children spend time with each parent.
People still commonly search for and use phrases such as “child custody” and “visitation,” so don’t worry if those are the terms you are familiar with. The important thing is understanding how the parenting arrangement will be documented in your Florida divorce.
Does a Florida Parenting Plan Have to Be 50/50?
A parenting schedule does not necessarily mean the children will spend an identical number of hours with each parent.
Families have different work schedules, school arrangements, distances between homes and practical needs. Parents who agree can provide the schedule they have decided will work for their family, subject to the requirements applicable to their case.
If parents disagree about the appropriate schedule or need legal advice about their rights, they should consult a Florida family-law attorney.
Can Parents Create Their Own Parenting Schedule?
Parents who agree can make decisions about the parenting arrangement they want to use.
There is no single schedule that fits every family. Some parents live minutes apart. Others live several hours from each other. Some have traditional work schedules, while others work nights, weekends or rotating shifts.
The parenting plan should reflect the arrangement the parents have actually chosen rather than forcing every family into the same schedule.
What Makes a Parenting Plan Easier to Follow?
One of the most useful things parents can do is be specific.
A parenting plan that simply says the parents will “work things out” may sound cooperative today but can create uncertainty later.
When creating your schedule, think about practical questions such as:
- What time does a weekend begin and end?
- Where will the children be picked up?
- Who handles transportation?
- How are holidays divided?
- What happens during summer vacation?
- How will school breaks be handled?
- How will the children communicate with the other parent?
Clear expectations can make the plan easier for everyone to understand.
What If the Parents Live Far Apart?
A parenting plan can also be created when parents live far away from each other.
A long-distance schedule may look very different from one used by parents who live in the same neighborhood.
Instead of frequent exchanges, parents may choose longer periods during:
- Summer vacation
- Winter break
- Spring break
- Holidays
- Other extended school breaks
The plan can also address travel arrangements and communication by telephone or video.
How Does a Parenting Plan Affect Child Support?
The parenting plan and child support are separate parts of a divorce involving children, but they are connected.
The number of overnights the children spend with each parent is information that can affect the Florida child support calculation. That is one reason the parenting schedule needs to be established when preparing the child support paperwork.
For a deeper explanation of how these two pieces work together, read our Florida Parenting Plan and Child Support Guide.
What If Both Parents Agree on the Parenting Plan?
When both parents agree on the parenting schedule, decision-making and the other terms of their divorce, the parenting plan can be prepared based on the decisions they provide.
Parents using our mutual-agreement process have options, including a no-court-hearing option for qualifying cases and a traditional filing option.
Learn about Mutual Agreement Divorce With Children →
What If the Parents Cannot Agree on a Parenting Plan?
Parents do not have to already agree in order for a divorce to move forward.
If one spouse will not cooperate or the parents cannot agree about time-sharing, parental responsibility or other issues, the divorce may need to proceed through service of summons.
Disputed parenting issues may then be addressed through mediation or the court process.
Learn about Divorce With Children by Summons →
What Does “Best Interests of the Child” Mean?
Florida courts consider the best interests of the child when reviewing and deciding parenting matters.
For parents who agree, creating a detailed parenting plan gives the court a written description of the parenting arrangement the parents want to follow.
If the parents disagree about what arrangement is in their children’s best interests, that becomes a legal dispute. We can prepare documents based on information provided to us, but we cannot advise either parent about what a judge should order.
Can a Florida Parenting Plan Be Changed Later?
Family circumstances can change after a divorce. Children grow older, work schedules change, parents move and other circumstances may develop.
A court-approved parenting plan may sometimes be modified when the legal requirements for modification are met.
Because modification involves an existing court order and depends on the individual circumstances, someone who needs advice about whether a parenting plan can or should be changed should consult a Florida family-law attorney.
What About Relocation With a Child?
Moving with a child can affect an existing parenting plan and time-sharing arrangement.
Florida has legal requirements that may apply when a parent proposes relocating with a child after a parenting order has been entered.
If relocation is already an issue in your case, consider speaking with a Florida family-law attorney before taking action that could affect an existing parenting order.
Common Parenting Plan Mistakes
When parents are making their own decisions, some of the most common problems come from leaving important details unresolved.
- Using a schedule that is too vague
- Not addressing holidays or school breaks
- Leaving transportation arrangements unclear
- Not establishing specific exchange times
- Forgetting to consider long-distance travel
- Creating a schedule that does not realistically fit work or school
Thinking through these practical details while the documents are being prepared can help create a clearer parenting plan.
Preparing a Parenting Plan for Your Florida Divorce
You do not have to know how to prepare all of the Florida family-law documents yourself.
Divorce in Florida Online has helped people throughout Florida prepare divorce documents for more than 15 years. When parenting documents are needed, we collect information about the arrangements the parents have chosen and use that information to prepare the appropriate paperwork.
We are a non-attorney document preparation service. We do not represent either parent, determine what parenting arrangement you should choose or provide legal advice.
Our process is remote, so no office visit is needed.
Not Sure Where Your Situation Fits?
Maybe you already have a parenting schedule worked out. Maybe you and your spouse agree on most things but still have questions about the paperwork. Or perhaps your spouse will not cooperate at all.
Tell us a little about what’s happening. We’ll review your answers and help determine which of our document-preparation processes may fit your situation.
Tell Us About Your SituationFrequently Asked Questions About Florida Parenting Plans
Do we need a parenting plan if we agree on everything?
Yes. Parents agreeing with each other does not eliminate the need to address parenting in a Florida divorce involving minor children. Their agreed arrangement can be documented in the parenting plan prepared for the case.
Is a parenting plan the same thing as child custody?
People commonly use the term “child custody,” but Florida parenting cases use concepts including parental responsibility and time-sharing. The parenting plan documents how those parenting arrangements will work.
Does a parenting plan have to be 50/50?
Not every family’s actual schedule will result in an identical amount of time with each parent. The appropriate arrangement depends on the circumstances and, when parents disagree, may require legal or court determination.
Can parents make their own parenting schedule?
Parents who agree can provide the parenting schedule they have chosen for their family. That arrangement can then be incorporated into the parenting plan prepared for their divorce.
What happens if we cannot agree?
If the parents cannot reach an agreement, unresolved parenting issues may need to be addressed through mediation or the court. The divorce itself can still move forward through the appropriate process.
Does the parenting schedule affect child support?
It can. The number of overnights the children spend with each parent is information used in Florida child support calculations, so the parenting schedule and child support paperwork are connected.
Can a parenting plan include video calls?
Yes. A parenting plan can address telephone, video or other communication between a parent and the children when they are apart.
Legal Disclaimer
Disclaimer: The information on this website is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Divorce in Florida Online is not a law firm, and no attorney-client relationship is created by the use of this website or its content. We do not provide legal advice or legal representation. Laws and procedures vary by case and may change over time. For legal advice regarding your individual circumstances, you should consult with a qualified, licensed attorney.
