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Properly Preparing Your Orlando, Florida Parenting Plan

If you have minor children involved in your custody or divorce case, then you will be required to complete a parenting plan. The Supreme Court of Florida Parenting Plan is approximately twelve (12) pages in length. You can download a blank Supreme Court Parenting Plan by going on the Florida Supreme Court website or by clicking here. There are many blanks to fill in to complete the Parenting Plan and several things to consider. 

Choosing a School

Will the child(ren) attend the school in the school Distinct where you live or where your spouse lives? Which parent’s school District has better schools? You can find and download the ratings of the Florida public schools online. You can compare the schools to see where the child(ren) would get the best education. 

Time Sharing

How will you divide the time sharing between the parties? If you have shared parental responsibility and time sharing, what will the schedule be for time sharing? Will it be one week on and one week off? Will it be 2,3,2? Will it be 4,3? You need to decide that. 

Who will transport the child(ren) to Timesharing? Where will you pick the children up? Where will you return the children? What other issues may arise in your particular situation regarding exchanging the children? If a parent is running late, how long do you have to wait for them?

Holidays

How will you divide the holidays? You need to decide that too. Will each parent get two (2) uninterrupted weeks with the children in the summer to go on vacation? Can either party take the child(ren) out of state or out of the country? What are the parameters to do that? That all needs to be included in the parenting plan. 

Babysitting

Who may babysit the children? How will you take care of extracurricular activities for the children? How will you divide the cost of the children’s extracurricular activities? 

Remember to fill in every blank on the parenting plan with great detail and specificity. If you say whatever parties agree to, that could lead to litigation in the future. Even if you agree now, in the future there could be disagreements. That is why everything must be spelled out in writing with great detail. That way you avoid having to go to mediation and/or court to resolve ambiguities in the parenting plan. 

If you have more questions regarding a Marital and Family Law matter, you may call Ann Marie Giordano Gilden at Ann Marie Giordano Gilden, P.A. at 407-732-7620 and set an initial consultation. 

This article is for informational purposes only and does not form an attorney client privilege.