Minor
children create an entire new layer of requirements to understand and follow
when it comes to getting a divorce in Florida. Florida law requires that
parenting plans are filed with a dissolution of marriage if there are minor
children involved.
Contrary
to popular belief, custody law in Florida does not give a preference to mothers
or fathers, but instead takes the specific facts and circumstances of each case
into account when deciding issues regarding parenting plans.
There
are many types of parenting plan schedules in Florida. For example:
-
Weekly Exchange.
This is pretty straightforward. The child/children will be with mom for a week,
and then dad for a week. This works best when work schedules are similar for
both parents.
-
2-3-2.
This is also a weekly schedule but with a different setup. For example, one
week dad will have the child/children for 2 days, then mom for 3 days, then
back to dad for 2. The following week it will be flipped so that the
child/children are with mom for 2 days, dad for three days, and back to mom for
two days.
-
Two Weeks.
This is similar to the weekly exchange. However, this arrangement allows the
child/children more time in each home and works better for busier schedules for
both parents and children who may be involved in extracurriculars.
-
**There
are others as well, but as I have said before, the specific circumstances of
your case will determine just how the time is split while also taking the
child’s best interests into account.
With
time-sharing also comes the issue of holidays, vacations, and breaks and how
these will affect the child and be split by each parent. The most important
thing when it comes to this part of the parenting plan is compromise.
Here
are some tips when it comes to deciding how to split time for holidays, summer
break, and any planned vacation time:
-
Be specific.
Be clear when holiday visits begin and end. For example, if time is split over
Christmas Eve and Christmas day, specify things like, “time with mom starts at
3pm Christmas Eve and ends 9am Christmas Day.”
-
Make a transportation plan.
Clarify which parent is dropping off/picking up as well as agreeing on a
drop-off/pick-up location. This could be at either parent’s house, a public
location in the middle, or an agreed-upon location detailed in the plan.
-
Plan vacation and break time for the
whole year. This way there are fixed dates detailed
in the plan that are agreed-upon by both parties. It also gives the children
more of a schedule and ability to know when and with whom they are spending
vacation and holiday time.
-
Work together when possible.
For example, if there was a previous family tradition of big birthday parties,
try and keep that as similar as possible for your child, especially if you and
your spouse have a working relationship.
Ultimately,
the schedule that works best for one family may not be the one that is best for
yours. It will take time, patience, understanding, and compromise to reach an
agreement that works for your family and takes your child/children’s best
interest into account. Florida law requires a parenting plan, but this does not
mean you have to lose precious time with your children. The end goal is that
everyone finds a beneficial arrangement that makes life easy for all.
***The
content, facts, and thoughts of this blog are meant to be informational and in
no way constitute legal advice. If you have any questions relating to family
law issues or a claim that you may have, please do not hesitate to contact
Marcie Baker to schedule your free consultation.
Sources: https://www.floridalegaladvice.com/blog/child-custody/
https://www.custodyxchange.com/topics/holidays/holiday-schedule-plan.php
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