Children and Divorce – Developing Parenting Plans

Florida requires that a parenting plan is created for all children who are a part of a divorce. Parenting Plans are created to address the modern-day challenges and issues that both parents and children face during and after a divorce. Parenting Plans detail each parent’s time with the child during the week, on holiday, and during breaks from school. Overall, Parenting Plans detail how the parents will share and divide the responsibilities of major life and legal decisions and the daily task involving raising the children.

Parenting Plans also detail little things, such as which address will be used to register the children for school and the methods used to communicate with the children.

When the court approves a Parenting Plan, they approve it based on the child’s best interest. Some of the top factors including but are not limited to the following:

  • The moral fitness of each parent.
  • The physical, mental and emotional health and well-being of each parent.
  • The child’s school and community records.
  • The parents confirmed capacity and disposition to facilitate and encourage a close and ongoing parent-child relationship, abide by the time-sharing schedule and be reasonable when changes are required.
  • The amount of time that the child has lived in a stable environment and the desirability of maintaining that environment.
  • The practical effect of the Parenting Plan, as it pertains to geography. This entails paying special attention to school-age children’s needs and the amount of time to be spent traveling according to the Parenting Plan.
  • If the court determines that a child has sufficient intelligence, understanding, and experience to express a preference, their preference will be considered.
  • The court will evaluate any evidence or past incidences of domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, or child neglect. Based on its finding, the court will evaluate the incidences and make decisions and alterations to the Parenting Plan, considering what’s in the child’s best interest.

These are just a few examples. There are several additional factors that the court may consider before approving a Parenting Plan. In general, the more cooperative the parents are, the easier it will be for the entire family to develop a plan that works for everyone and is in the children’s best interest.

 

Brandon Legal Group
1209 Lakeside Drive
Brandon FL, 33510
Phone: (813)-902-3576
Email: service@brandonlegalgroup.com

Children and Divorce – Developing Parenting Plans

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