| When deciding how to divide your children's time after | | | | situation better. |
| the divorce, parents often write parenting plans. | | | | When writing a parenting plan, at a minimum, you |
| Parenting plans spell out the terms of the children's | | | | should include the following 6 items in your parenting |
| timesharing with each parent and each parent's | | | | plan: |
| responsibility for decision making and support after | | | | |
| divorce. Temporary parenting plans can also be used | | | | 1. Information about the children - Names and dates of |
| before the final judgment. The plan provides the | | | | birth |
| roadmap for your children's future. Parenting plans are | | | | 2. Standards of Parental Conduct - How parents act |
| the most important document in a Florida divorce with | | | | toward each other & children |
| children. | | | | 3. Parental Responsibility - Decision making |
| Parenting plans can be as detailed or as vague as the | | | | 4. Primary Residence - Timesharing |
| parents want. For timesharing, Florida courts have | | | | 5. Child support - Guideline calculation/deviation, college |
| "model schedules" for each circuit (and sometimes in | | | | 6. How the Plan Can be Changed - Written and signed |
| each county). Typically, there is a model schedule for | | | | by both, triggers that will cause changes |
| local parents and another for parents who live further | | | | Developing the parenting plan can help you become |
| away. | | | | clearer about what your expectations for your former |
| You will want to read the model schedule for your | | | | spouse are. It can also help you focus on the |
| area for three reasons. First, you will see what a partial | | | | long-range plan for your children. Parents with young |
| parenting plan looks and sounds like. Second, you may | | | | children have to look far into the future and consider |
| decide that the model schedule in your area is | | | | how those future decisions will be made and the future |
| appropriate for your family. If so, the bulk of your | | | | responsibilities allocated. |
| parenting plan work is done. Third, you may want to | | | | Through the years, I've noticed that parents who work |
| use the parts of the model schedule are appropriate | | | | hard to develop a detailed parenting plan tend to return |
| for your family. | | | | to court less for enforcement issues. I think the |
| Parenting plans needs to meet the needs of your | | | | success of the plan is equal to the time you put into |
| family. If the model schedule is not appropriate for your | | | | developing it. The parenting plan is a roadmap for your |
| family, you may decide that parts of the model plan | | | | children's future. You will probably want to include |
| can be re-worked for your family. You may also want | | | | many more items in your parenting plan. The six |
| to do an online search and look at some other | | | | ingredients listed here are the bare minimum for a |
| parenting plan language to see if one fits your family's | | | | parenting plan. |