What To Include In Your Fort Lauderdale Parenting Plan
Florida law requires time-sharing in cases involving divorce or single parents. Parenting plans outline these arrangements. Our Fort Lauderdale family lawyer explains the requirements and important provisions to include.
Florida Law: Requirements for Parenting Plans in Fort Lauderdale
The Florida Statutes encourage child time-sharing arrangements in cases involving divorced or single parents. To create these arrangements, a parenting plan outlines all the details. When creating your parenting plan in Fort Lauderdale, include specific provisions to protect your child and ensure each parent understands their rights and responsibilities:
- Time with each parent: Specify the amount of time the child spends in each parent’s care. The goal is a safe, stable, and predictable schedule that protects everyone involved.
- Decision-making authority: Specify which parent will make major decisions regarding the child’s health, education, and religious upbringing.
- Transportation and exchanges: A parenting plan should also outline how the child will be transported between the parents and where exchanges will occur, including pickup and drop-off locations, times, and how transportation costs will be handled.
- Communication between parents: A successful parenting plan emphasizes open and respectful communication between both parents. Addressing any issues or changes cooperatively helps to reduce conflict.
These provisions ensure that both parents are on the same page and help foster an environment of cooperation, which ultimately benefits their children.
Additional Factors To Consider When Creating A Fort Lauderdale Parenting Plan
Keep in mind that once a parenting plan is put in place through the Broward County Family Court, both parents are required to follow it. Give careful thought to the basic requirements of your Fort Lauderdale parenting plan, along with other factors more specific to your family and situation. These include:
- Holiday and vacation time-sharing: Specify how holidays, vacations, and other special times get shared between the parents. This can help prevent confusion or conflict.
- Healthcare and medical decisions: The plan should define how healthcare decisions will be made, including which parent will make medical decisions in the event of an emergency. It should also address insurance coverage and how medical expenses will be shared.
- Child support and financial contributions: Although child support is usually addressed separately from the parenting plan, it’s important to clarify how expenses such as school fees, extracurricular activities, and medical bills will be divided.
- Flexibility for changes: A good parenting plan should have flexibility built into it. This could include provisions for adjusting the plan if circumstances change, such as relocations or significant changes in the child’s needs.
Our Fort Lauderdale Family Lawyer Helps You Create A Parenting Plan That Works
Parenting plans help protect parental rights and ensure that your child’s needs are met. The law office of Vanessa L. Prieto provides trusted legal guidance in these cases, helping you create a parenting plan that protects your rights and works for both you and your child.
To get the legal help you need, call or contact our office online. Schedule a consultation today with our experienced Fort Lauderdale family lawyer.
Sources:
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/Sections/0061.13.html
flcourts.gov/content/download/686031/file_pdf/995a.pdf
