It is creating a good parenting plan for your kids after divorce that is the most desirable course of action when that is possible. It is the written document that outlines how you are going to continue to care for your child with the other parent after the divorce finalized and it’s going to be crucial for child care.
However, in Florida law, there is specific terminology and legal concepts that you should be acquainted with before creating a parenting plan. Let’s have a closer look at what parenting plans are, and what you can do to ensure that yours will cover what is best for the children:
What’s a Parenting Plan and What Should It Contain?
Since a parenting plan is supposed to outline your childcare arrangements with the other parent, there is specific information it has to include:
- Time-sharing schedule;
- Information about which parent will be responsible for health care;
- Written description and provisions about how the parents are going to share the responsibility for raising the child;
- Information about which parent will be in charge of the school and extracurricular activities;
- Information about whose address will be listed and used for school-boundary determination as well as registration;
- Information about the technologies that the parents intend to use for communication with the child.
Florida Terminology Related to Parenting Plans
You might be familiar with terms such as custody and visitation, but in Florida law, they are replaced with parental responsibility and time-sharing.
When it comes to parental responsibility, it can share with the other parent, or one parent could have the sole obligation. It refers to the authority each parent has to make decisions about, and, for the child, including matters such as health care, education, discipline, etc. It’s up to the parents to agree how they are going to divide their parental duties. Courts prefer they shared parental responsibility unless it is not in the child’s best interests.
Time-sharing outlines how much time each parent will spend with the child. In case you have sole parental responsibility, it can be with or without time-sharing with the other parent.
Creating a Parenting Plan with the Other Parent
To create a good parenting plan for your kids, you and the other parent should cooperate and consider the child’s best interests. It might be necessary to go through the parenting coordination program to attain an agreement. If you fail to reach an agreement with the other parent regarding the parenting plan even with the help of the coordinator, then it will be up to the court to determine your parenting plan and order it.
It is best if the parents can settle on a plan which they both agree. In that case, once the program is complete, it is submitted to the court and accepted by the judge. When creating a parenting plan, it’s important to consider different factors:
- Whether the parents live close to one another or not;
- The ability of each parent to maintain a good relationship with the child and provide them with a stable and safe environment;
- How stable each of the parents is when it comes to their physical, emotional and mental well-being.
Divorce is never easy, but with some effort, you might avoid it negatively impacting your children by creating a good parenting plan with the other parent.
It is important to know your rights. If you would like to discuss the specifics of your divorce case or need help with creating a parenting plan, call Debora A. Diaz Esquire at 727-846-1802.
Attorney Diaz is also a Supreme Court Certified Family Law Mediator and is available to mediate your case.
Written by Debora A. Diaz, Esq.