Parenting Plans

In Florida, parents can follow four different guides to drafting their parenting plan, depending on their particular situation. Parents can create a “basic plan” if they:

• agree on most aspects of shared responsibility and time-sharing;
• communicate well;
• do not have a history of domestic violence, child abuse, or substance abuse;
• do not plan to live more than 50 miles from each other.

Alternatively, parents can pursue a “long distance” plan if they meet the first three requirements as listed above but plan to live more than 50 miles from each other. Note that the long distance plan, sometimes referred to as the relocation plan, requires additional details about how the children will commute between both parents’ homes and should also address how children will communicate with one parent while residing with the other.

The “highly structured” plan may be a viable option if both parents:

• struggle to agree on shared responsibility and time-sharing;
• are unlikely to communicate civilly with each other;
• do not have a history of domestic abuse, child abuse, or substance abuse.

The highly structured plan is mostly sought after in high-conflict cases with frequent disagreement, and it is typically negotiated between parents while a mediator or their lawyers are present. The plan will set out specific rules for decision-making and time-sharing to prevent potential future conflict, and it can also lay out default decisions for when parents cannot agree. While parents may not be amicable in a highly structure plan, they should be willing to cooperate. In some cases, a highly structured plan can be combined with a long distance plan if the parents live more than 50 miles away from each other.

Lastly, the “safety-focused” plan may be appropriate if the children or parents are at risk of dangerous issues like domestic violence, child abuse, substance abuse, or criminal activity. This fourth plan prioritizes children’s physical safety while still attempting to maintain the parent-child relationship. In such a situation, the parent who poses a risk may receive either unsupervised time-sharing with no overnight visits or supervised visitation only. In extreme situations, a Florida court may deny the parent any visitation at all if doing so is in the child’s best interests. If parents live more than 50 miles away, the safety-focused plan can be combined with a long distance plan and a highly structured plan, if appropriate.