What’s Included In A Florida Parenting Plan?
If you’re going through a divorce or recently welcomed a baby into the world, then you’re going to need to know something about timesharing and parenting plans. In this article, Tampa, FL, family law attorneys at Faulkner Law Group, PLLC, will discuss the requirements for a timesharing agreement and what important provisions you should include.
What’s required in a Florida parenting plan?
The purpose of a Florida parenting plan is to outline the schedule by which the children will see their parents. The Florida Statutes encourage all parents who are divorced or single to create a timesharing agreement. This agreement will delineate when each parent spends time with their children and their individual rights and responsibilities. What’s required?
- A schedule for each parent – You will have to indicate the amount of time the child spends with each parent. The goal is to create a stable and predictable schedule that protects the children from the upheaval of divorce. Ultimately, Florida favors equal timesharing for parents, but parents can create a schedule that works for them.
- Decision-making authority or custody – Who has the power to make decisions regarding the child’s healthcare, education, and religious upbringing? Is it one parent or both? Your parenting plan should indicate who has the right and responsibility to make key decisions on the child’s behalf.
- Exchanges and transportation – Your parenting plan should also determine how the child will be transported between their parents’ homes and where the exchanges are to take place. This includes pickup and drop-off locations, times, and managing the cost of the transportation.
- Communication – The best parenting plans emphasize respectful communication between both parents. There are apps that can help you schedule and organize your pickup and drop-off times. Changes will inevitably need to be made. Addressing these issues together can help matters function more smoothly.
- Holidays and vacations – You will want to specify how holidays and vacations are shared between parents. This can help avoid unnecessary conflict.
- Healthcare decisions – The parenting plan should establish how healthcare decisions are made. This includes which parent has the authority to make medical decisions on the child’s behalf in the case of an emergency. It should also address how the child will be insured and how medical expenses will be split between the parents.
- Child support – Child support is generally addressed separately from the parenting plan. However, it’s important to clarify issues such as expenses for extracurricular activities, medical bills, and other eventualities will be divided.
- Room for changes – The best parenting plans are flexible. Changes emerge and are generally outside of your control. A good parenting plan will include provisions for making changes when circumstances change. These can include relocations or major changes in what the child needs.
These are the most important provisions to include in your parenting plan. Having a comprehensive parenting plan will minimize the need to make modifications later, which can be inconvenient and difficult.
Talk to a Tampa, FL Child Custody Attorney Today
Faulkner Law Group, PLLC, represents the interests of parents who need to negotiate a parenting plan. Call our Tampa family lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin discussing your next steps right away.
