The Core Requirement

A parenting plan must describe, in adequate detail, how the parents will share and be responsible for the daily tasks of raising the child, and it must include a time-sharing schedule specifying the time the child spends with each parent. “We’ll work it out” is not a plan Florida law recognizes as complete.

What the Schedule Actually Needs to Cover

A workable time-sharing schedule specifies which days and overnights belong to each parent, including holidays, school breaks, and birthdays — not just a general description of “regular” time.

Decision-Making Has to Be Addressed Separately from the Schedule

This is where a lot of draft plans fall short: the plan needs to say who is responsible for school enrollment and choice, parent-teacher communication, and educational support, and separately, who makes decisions about routine and emergency medical care, dental care, mental health services, and health insurance.

Communication Has Its Own Section Too

The plan should specify how the parents will communicate with each other about the child — not left to assumption, especially if communication has been a source of conflict.

Everything Gets Measured Against One Standard

The best interest of the child is the primary consideration for every part of the plan. A plan that’s convenient for the parents but doesn’t hold up to that standard is the kind of thing a court will send back for revision.

What This Means for Mediation

A parenting plan built in mediation still has to meet these requirements — the mediator can help you work through each section, but doesn’t draft the legal document or determine what a court will accept.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Sun State Mediator does not draft a parenting plan or determine whether a specific plan meets legal requirements.

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