Florida parents may draft a parenting plan to specify how they want to handle the custody of their children. Under, Fla. Stat. 61.13, a parenting plan must include the following information:
- Thorough description of how parents will share parental responsibilities.
- Time-sharing schedule specifying when each parent will spend time with the child.
- Details regarding which parent will be responsible for making decisions regarding the child’s health care, school-related issues and other activities.
- Methods of communication used by parents to maintain a relationship with the child (phone calls, texts, etc.).
How does the plan become finalized?
Once the parents have reached an understanding, they will submit their final plan to the court for approval. The judge may approve the plan as is or make changes as necessary. The final plan will be made in accordance with the Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act and will serve the child’s best interests.
If the parents are unable to agree on the terms of the parenting plan, they can submit separate proposed plans to the court. The judge will review each proposed plan and come up with a final plan.
Generally, both parents will share parental responsibility unless the court determines that shared child custody would be detrimental to the child’s well-being. The court will also consider the desires and abilities of each parent when determining how to divide up the child-raising responsibilities.
The court’s ultimate goal is to make sure that the child’s physical, emotional and financial needs are properly addressed, even though their parents are no longer together.
