Florida Parenting Plan and Child Support Guide

If you are getting divorced in Florida and have minor children, two of the most important parts of your case are the parenting plan and child support.

These issues apply whether you and your spouse agree on everything or your divorce has to move forward through another process. The parenting plan establishes how parenting will work after the divorce, while child support addresses the financial support of your children.

This guide explains how the two work together, what information parents need to provide, and what to expect when preparing divorce documents involving children in Florida.

If you are still trying to understand the overall divorce process, start with our Divorce With Children in Florida guide.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
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What Is a Florida Parenting Plan?

A Florida parenting plan is a written document that describes how the parents will share responsibilities for their children and how time with each parent will be structured after the divorce.

A parenting plan is more than a visitation calendar. It creates a framework for many of the practical decisions parents will continue making after their marriage ends.

What Does a Parenting Plan Address?

• How parents will share responsibility for the children
• The regular time-sharing schedule
• Weekends and weekdays
• Holidays and school breaks
• Summer schedules
• Transportation and exchanges
• School-related decisions
• Healthcare decisions
• Communication between the parents and children
• Other arrangements that apply to the family’s circumstances

When parents agree, they can provide the information needed to prepare a parenting plan reflecting the arrangement they have chosen. When they cannot agree, parenting issues may need to be resolved through mediation or by the court.

Timesharing in a Florida Divorce

Florida uses the term time-sharing to describe the schedule establishing when the children spend time with each parent.

There is not one schedule that works for every family. Parents may have similar amounts of time with the children, or one parent may have substantially more overnights than the other.

Does a Parenting Plan Have to Be 50/50?

Not every parenting plan results in an exact 50/50 division of time. The schedule should reflect the family’s circumstances and ultimately must meet the requirements applicable to the case.

Work schedules, school, distance between the parents’ homes and the children’s needs can all affect how a practical schedule is structured.

How Parenting Plans and Child Support Work Together

The parenting plan and child support calculation are separate parts of the divorce paperwork, but they are connected.

One reason is that the number of overnights the children spend with each parent can affect the Florida child support calculation. That means the time-sharing schedule needs to be established before an accurate child support worksheet can be completed.

How Is Child Support Calculated in Florida?

Florida uses child support guidelines and a worksheet to calculate support.

The calculation can include information such as:

• Income of both parents
• The number of overnights with each parent
• Health insurance costs for the children
• Childcare expenses
• Certain other information required by the child support calculation

Because the calculation depends on information from both parents, accurate financial information is an important part of preparing divorce documents involving children.

For additional information, visit our Florida Child Support guide.

What If Both Parents Agree on Child Support?

Parents agreeing with each other does not eliminate the child support calculation. Child support still needs to be calculated and addressed in the divorce paperwork.

If the parents want the guideline amount reflected in their agreement, that amount can be incorporated into the documents prepared for the case.

If both parents want to request a different amount, the situation may require a different filing approach so the requested deviation can be presented to the court.

This does not necessarily mean the divorce is contested. The parents may still agree completely with each other—they simply may need a traditional filing option rather than our no-court-hearing option.

Does Child Support Automatically Go Through the Child Support Office?

Not necessarily.

In the mutual-agreement process we handle, child support is calculated and included in the divorce paperwork, but the child support office is not automatically notified to collect the payments and payroll deduction is not automatically established simply because support appears in the final judgment.

After the divorce is final, the parent receiving child support may choose to take the final paperwork to the child support office if they want assistance with collection.

Parenting Plans in a Mutual Agreement Divorce

When both spouses agree on the divorce and the parenting arrangements, they can provide the information needed to prepare their parenting plan and related documents.

Mutual-agreement clients have options. Depending on the circumstances and the terms of the agreement, we offer a no-court-hearing option for qualifying cases as well as a traditional filing option.

Learn about Mutual Agreement Divorce With Children →

What If the Parents Cannot Agree on the Parenting Plan?

A divorce involving children does not have to stop simply because the parents cannot agree.

If one spouse will not cooperate or the parents disagree about parenting, child support or other divorce issues, the case may need to proceed through service of summons.

After the other spouse is served, disputed issues may be addressed through the court process, which can include mediation and, when necessary, a hearing or trial.

Learn about Divorce With Children by Summons →

Do Both Parents Have to Take a Parenting Course?

In Florida divorce cases involving minor children, parents generally must complete the required 4-hour parenting course.

The parents do not have to take the class together. The course can be completed online, and completion documentation is submitted as part of the divorce process.

Take the Florida Parenting Course →

What Does “Best Interests of the Child” Mean?

Florida courts consider the best interests of the child when reviewing and deciding parenting issues.

For parents preparing an agreed parenting plan, the practical goal is to create an arrangement that addresses the children’s needs and gives everyone a clear understanding of how parenting will work after the divorce.

If parents disagree about what arrangement is appropriate, determining their legal rights or what a court should order is a legal issue. Divorce in Florida Online does not provide legal advice or represent either parent.

What If the Parents Live Far Apart?

Parents who live far apart can still have a parenting plan.

A long-distance plan may need to address longer school-break visits, summer time-sharing, holidays, transportation, travel expenses and communication by telephone or video.

The schedule should reflect what the parents have agreed to and what is realistically workable for their family.

Can a Parenting Plan or Child Support Be Changed Later?

Parenting plans and child support orders may sometimes be modified after a divorce is final when the legal requirements for modification are met.

Because modification involves an existing court order and may depend on the specific circumstances of the case, someone seeking legal guidance about whether they qualify for a modification should speak with a Florida family-law attorney.

What About Relocation After Divorce?

Relocation can affect an existing parenting plan and time-sharing arrangement. Florida has specific legal requirements that can apply when a parent proposes relocating with a child.

If relocation is already an issue in an existing case or final judgment, consider obtaining legal advice before making decisions that could affect an existing parenting order.

Preparing Your Parenting Plan and Child Support Documents

You do not need to know how to prepare every Florida family-law form yourself.

Divorce in Florida Online has helped people throughout Florida prepare divorce documents for more than 15 years. We collect the information needed for your situation and prepare the appropriate documents based on the information and decisions you provide.

Our services are remote, so no office visit is needed.

Not Sure What You Need?

You may know what parenting schedule you want but have no idea how child support works. You may agree on everything except one issue. Or you may simply be trying to understand which divorce process fits your situation.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions About Parenting Plans and Child Support

Do we need a parenting plan if we agree on everything?

Yes. An agreement between the parents does not eliminate the need for a parenting plan when the divorce involves minor children. The agreed parenting arrangements are documented in the paperwork submitted in the case.

Do we still have to calculate child support if we agree?

Yes. Child support still needs to be calculated and addressed in the divorce paperwork even when both parents agree.

Can we agree that neither parent will pay child support?

Parents may agree that they want an amount different from the guideline calculation, but that request may need to be presented to the court as a deviation. For our mutual-agreement clients, this can affect whether the no-court-hearing option or a traditional filing option is appropriate.

Does child support automatically come out of someone’s paycheck?

Not through the mutual-agreement process we handle simply because child support is included in the divorce paperwork. Payroll deduction and collection through the child support office are not automatically established as part of that process.

What if my spouse and I cannot agree on a parenting plan?

If the parents cannot reach an agreement, the divorce may need to proceed through a summons process where unresolved issues can be addressed through mediation or the court.

Can we prepare our divorce documents online if we have children?

Yes. Divorce document preparation can be handled remotely even when minor children are involved. The exact documents and process depend on your circumstances.

Watch: Parenting Plans and Child Support in Florida

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.