Understanding Parenting Plans In The State Of Florida

Several elements are addressed during a divorce. Among the most important are custody agreements and parenting plans. In Florida, a parenting plan is the document that determines the custodial agreement between the parents. The court will expect the parents to present a parenting plan to the court for review. When the parents cannot come to an agreement, the court must intervene and decide for them. This is also true of parents who have a child out of wedlock. The Florida courts encourage parents to reach an agreement during mediation. The mediator helps the parents decide on visitation schedules and issues related to custody. In this article, the Tampa child custody lawyers at Faulkner Law Group, PLLC will discuss parenting plans and how they work.

The purpose of a parenting plan in Florida 

Parenting plans must address the needs of the individual child or children of the marriage. The parents will need to gain court approval for their plan. The parents will have to come to an agreement concerning key issues related to custody, such as where the child goes to school, issues related to their medical care, and what sort of religion the child will be raised in. The parents will also need to decide on a visitation schedule and determine which parent will spend the most time with the children.

A comprehensive parenting plan will anticipate problems that can come up and devise solutions to handle these problems. This helps avoid conflict. A parenting plan may not be able to anticipate every problem that arises, but it can provide a road map for navigating potential issues.

If the parents cannot agree on a parenting plan or the court refuses to approve the parenting plan that they present, then the courts will have to step in and create a parenting plan for the parents. It is always in the best interest of the parents to reach the agreement together.

When reviewing a parenting plan, the courts will consider the following elements:

• Can each parent maintain a close emotional relationship with the child?
• Can each parent identify the specific needs of the child and address those needs?
• Geographically speaking, how close do the parents live to the child?
• Can each parent provide the child with a stable home environment?
• Are the parents in good mental and physical health?
• What are the educational and developmental needs of the child?
• Are there any other circumstances that impact the child’s well-being?

Parenting plans are required to include all of the following:

• a statement deciding how the parents will divide parenting responsibilities
• a detailed visitation schedule that outlines when the child will spend time with each parent
• a determination on which parent has the power to make health care and school-related decisions for the child
• how each parent will communicate with the child, whether by telephone or digital medium

Talk to a Tampa FL child custody attorney today 

Are you looking to hammer out a child custody agreement with your former spouse or child’s parent? If so, call the Tampa child custody attorneys at Faulkner Law Group, PLLC. We can help you draft a parenting plan that will be accepted by the courts and reduce the likelihood of costly litigation. Call our office today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin discussing your next steps immediately.