Parenting plans become enforceable when issued and remain in effect until modified. You can petition the court to modify the parenting plan to adjust for unanticipated, material, and substantial change(s) in circumstances that no longer serve the children’s best interests.

Instead of traditional legal and physical custody definitions, Florida adopted a parenting plan and time-sharing schedule. The parenting plan specifies how the parents divide decision-making
authority and responsibilities. For example, the plan sets who will be responsible for the child’s education, health care, and extracurricular activities.

A parenting plan also specifies where the child will live and the time the children spend with each parent. Again, because each family’s needs and circumstances are unique, time-sharing schedules are flexible. But, again, the facts of the case determine the timeline.

In Florida, courts consider time-sharing under the best interests of the child standard. Therefore, custody decisions are made by courts based on what is best for the child.

These factors could include the following:

• The child’s age
• The quality of the child’s existing relationship with the parents
• The ability of either parent to provide a stable, safe environment
• Which parent is more likely to encourage the child’s ongoing relationship with the other
  parent

Judges have wide latitude in determining how much weight to give to each factor.