Under prior state law, divorce judgments were often lacking specific language about when a parent would be allowed to see their child. This situation has been remedied with the requirement that a Parenting Plan be entered in every case involving minor children.
At a minimum a Parenting Plan should include:
- A schedule of minimum allowable contact between the child and the parent that does not live with the child.
- Contact information (address, phones numbers, email addresses, etc.) for the parents
Click the following link to find a sample Parenting Plan: A. James Mullaney’s Parenting Plan
In general, the child’s time is divided into the following periods:
- Normal school year,
- Winter/Christmas Break
- Spring Break
- Summer Break
- Other holidays (Thanksgiving, 4th of July, Memorial Day, Halloween,….)
The following are some of the additional issues discussed in a Parenting Plan:
- How the parents discuss the time sharing (phone, email, text message,…)
- How the parent and child communicate when not together (phone, email, text message, Skype, FaceTime,….)
- Which parent makes the specific decisions for medical treatment, education, or discipline.
- Notification time table for out-of-state or international travel
Obviously, it is better (financially and emotionally) if you and the other parent are able to agree on the terms of the Parenting Plan. However, if you are not, the judge will impose a Parenting Plan on you after a trial where they will consider the following factors:
- The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing parent-child relationship, to honor the time-sharing schedule, and to be reasonable when changes are required.
- The anticipated division of parental responsibilities after the litigation, including the extent to which parental responsibilities will be delegated to third parties.
- The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to determine, consider, and act upon the needs of the child as opposed to the needs or desires of the parent.
- The length of time the child has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment and the desirability of maintaining continuity.
- The geographic viability of the parenting plan, with special attention paid to the needs of school-age children and the amount of time to be spent traveling to effectuate the parenting plan. This factor does not create a presumption for or against relocation of either parent with a child.
- The moral fitness of the parents
- The mental and physical health of the parents.
- The home, school, and community record of the child.
- The reasonable preference of the child, if the court deems the child to be of sufficient intelligence, understanding, and experience to express a preference.
- The demonstrated knowledge, capacity, and disposition of each parent to be informed of the circumstances of the minor child, including, but not limited to, the child’s friends, teachers, medical care providers, daily activities, and favorite things.
- The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to provide a consistent routine for the child, such as discipline, and daily schedules for homework, meals, and bedtime.
- The demonstrated capacity of each parent to communicate with and keep the other parent informed of issues and activities regarding the minor child, and the willingness of each parent to adopt a unified front on all major issues when dealing with the child.
- Evidence of domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, child abandonment, or child neglect, regardless of whether a prior or pending action relating to those issues has been brought. If the court accepts evidence of prior or pending actions regarding domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, child abandonment, or child neglect, the court must specifically acknowledge in writing that such evidence was considered when evaluating the best interests of the child.
- Evidence that either parent has knowingly provided false information to the court regarding any prior or pending action regarding domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, child abandonment, or child neglect.
- The particular parenting tasks customarily performed by each parent and the division of parental responsibilities before the institution of litigation and during the pending litigation, including the extent to which parenting responsibilities were undertaken by third parties.
- The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to participate and be involved in the child’s school and extracurricular activities.
- The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to maintain an environment for the child which is free from substance abuse.
- The capacity and disposition of each parent to protect the child from the ongoing litigation as demonstrated by not discussing the litigation with the child, not sharing documents or electronic media related to the litigation with the child, and refraining from disparaging comments about the other parent to the child.
- The developmental stages and needs of the child and the demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to meet the child’s developmental needs.
- Any other factor that is relevant to the determination of a specific parenting plan, including the time-sharing schedule.
You should consult with a Parenting Plan lawyer in Jacksonville to advise you of your legal rights and, if necessary, show the Court that your proposed Parenting Plan is in the best interest of the child. Please call the office with your questions.
