Is there a Standard Parenting Plan in Florida?

Are you a parent who is getting divorced or separated in Clearwater or elsewhere in Pinellas County? You will likely need to develop a parenting plan. You may be wondering: Is there a standard parenting plan in Florida? The short answer is “yes”, or at least there are standard parenting plans. The state provides some approved templates. Though, you and your co-parent can always develop a customized plan that works best for your situation. Here, our Clearwater child custody attorney provides a more comprehensive overview of parenting plans in Florida.

Know Your Rights: Florida Does Not Require Every Family to Use the Same Parenting Plan

First and foremost, it is important for parents in Clearwater to know that state law requires a parenting plan when parents must establish time-sharing for a minor child. Florida Statutes § 61.046(14) defines a parenting plan as the document governing parental decision-making and requiring a time-sharing schedule. With that being said, there is no single schedule or set of parenting terms that applies automatically to every family.

The parents may develop and agree to their own plan, subject to court approval. If they cannot agree, or if the court declines to approve their agreement, the court establishes the parenting plan. In other words, Florida law establishes mandatory substantive requirements without imposing one universal arrangement on every family.

Florida Provides Standardized Parenting Plan Forms to Make the Process Easier 

The Florida Supreme Court has approved standardized forms that parents can use as a framework. Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.995(a) is the general Parenting Plan. Florida Courts also provides Form 12.995(b), a Supervised/Safety-Focused Parenting Plan, and Form 12.995(c), a Relocation/Long-Distance Parenting Plan. These forms can help ensure that important subjects are addressed, but using a standard form does not mean that every family receives identical substantive terms. Still, even with these standardized plan structures, the provisions governing decision-making, exchanges, holidays, school breaks, communication, and ordinary weekly time-sharing can be tailored to the circumstances of the particular children and parents.

Every Parenting Plan Must Satisfy Statutory Minimum Requirements in Florida

Regardless of whether parents use Form 12.995(a) or prepare a customized agreement, the plan must satisfy Florida Statutes § 61.13(2)(b). At a minimum, the plan must:

• Describe how the parents will divide responsibility for daily parenting tasks;
• Establish a time-sharing schedule;
• Allocate responsibility for health care, school-related matters, and other activities Specify how each parent will communicate with the child; and,
• Absent a written agreement otherwise, identify authorized locations for exchanging the child.

Speak to Our Clearwater Parenting Plan Lawyer Today

At the Law Office of Gale H. Moore P.A., our Clearwater child custody attorney is well-versed in parenting plans. If you have any questions about negotiating a parenting plan, standard or otherwise, we can help. Contact us today to set up a confidential consultation. Our firm handles child custody cases throughout Pinellas County.

Source:

leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/Sections/0061.046.html