What Should a Stellar Parenting Plan Include?

Every paternity action or divorce involving minor children in Florida must establish a Parenting Plan. But what exactly is a Parenting Plan and what should a good one include? A parenting plan is a legally binding document that governs all rules that the parties must follow regarding parental responsibility and time-sharing in all child-related matters. Parties can establish a Parenting Plan through agreement (usually following negotiations or a formal mediation), or by presenting evidence at trial, resulting in a court order by the Judge. All terms and conditions in the resulting Parenting Plan must be in the children’s best interests.

Florida Statute §61.13(2)(b) provides a basis for what a court established or a court approved Parenting Plan must contain:

1) a description in adequate detail of how the parents will share and be responsible for the daily tasks associated with the upbringing of the child.

2) a time-sharing schedule that specifies the time the child will spend with each parent.

3) A designation of which parent (or both) will be responsible for healthcare, school-related matters, and other activities.

4) A detailed description of the methods and technologies each parent will use to communicate with the child.

5) The location of exchange of the child for time-sharing purposes.

These provide what, at a minimum, needs to be included for a valid parenting plan, however it’s important to understand that a parenting plan can be as detailed as the parties want to make it. Often times, having a detail oriented plan can avoid future uncertainty and ambiguity and reduce the risk of parties rushing back to court to litigate issues. Parties should keep in mind that as the children grow, the plan should grow with them. Children may not be school aged at the time the Parenting Plan is prepared, but a stellar parenting plan will plan for and address issues ahead of time. Good parenting plans include specification of how the co-parents will communicate with each other, details regarding travel and transportation, choice of activities and payment for extra-curricular activities, which parent’s address will be used for school zone purposes, detailed holiday time-sharing plans (including holidays and events that may be important to your specific family), and a procedure for vacation travel and planning with the children. You should discuss your family’s specific needs with your attorney to establish a Parenting Plan that works the best for you.

Contact Cody Law in St. Augustine Florida if you’d like help navigating a Florida family law issue and designing a parenting plan that addresses the needs of your family.