| Florida law requires Parenting Plans for all divorcing | | | | parents receive notice of special school events? |
| couples with children starting October 1, 2008. Florida | | | | Transfer of Belongings - Will toys, clothes, backpacks |
| law has a strong public policy to keep both parents in | | | | and other property of the children transfer between |
| frequent and continuing contact with their children after | | | | homes (if so, how and when) or will both parents have |
| divorce. In Florida law, parenting issues are divided into | | | | these items? What happens if a needed item is not |
| three categories: parental responsibility, time sharing | | | | transferred? |
| and support. This article examines the time sharing | | | | Right of First Refusal - If the other parent cannot |
| section of a parenting plan. | | | | personally attend to the children in that parent's |
| The time sharing section of your parenting plan spells | | | | designated time sharing period (due to illness, travel, |
| out when the children will be with each parent. Many | | | | etc), does the other parent have the right of first |
| Florida courts currently have "model schedules" for | | | | refusal? How long a period must it be before the right |
| visitation. You can also check the websites of the | | | | of first refusal applies - overnight, four hours, 24 hours? |
| larger urban areas near you for their models. For | | | | Notice of Whereabouts - When does information have |
| example, Miami, Tampa and West Palm Beach all | | | | to be provided to the other parent if the children will |
| have model schedules, but Orange County and | | | | not be at the usual location? When and how will the |
| Broward County do not. | | | | other parent be notified? This could include leaving the |
| You will want to read the model schedule for your | | | | county, being out-of-county overnight, leaving the state, |
| area for two reasons. First, you will see what a partial | | | | etc. |
| parenting plan looks and sounds like. Second, you may | | | | When developing your parenting plan, it is often helpful |
| decide that the model schedule in your area is | | | | to see the proposed schedule on a calendar. There |
| appropriate for your family. If so, the timesharing part | | | | are many different software programs for dividing |
| of your parenting plan is done when you attach a | | | | parenting time. One of the least expensive programs |
| copy of the model to your plan and make reference | | | | provides excellent color-coded calendars that let you |
| to it. | | | | see what various schedules looks like. So, for example, |
| If the model schedule for your area is not appropriate | | | | if the parents designate birthdays as a special |
| for your family, you may decide that the model plan | | | | occasion days in the parenting plan and everyone's |
| can be re-worked for your family. You may also want | | | | birthday is in May or June, you can see how that looks |
| to do an online search and look at some time sharing | | | | when combined with Memorial Day, Mother's Day and |
| schedules from other areas of the country. Just be | | | | Father's Day. And, depending on your rotation |
| sure to include all the plan sections that Florida requires. | | | | schedule, holidays may not need to be designated |
| As for time sharing with your children, think about how | | | | separately when you see your regular schedule on the |
| these items should work for your family: | | | | calendar. |
| Transitions - Pick up and Drop Off - Which of you is | | | | So start with a model schedule to see if it meets your |
| driving? If you use school as the transition point, what | | | | family's needs. If it does not, can it be re-worked to |
| happens when school is not in session? | | | | meet them? Is there another model schedule (or |
| Holidays and Special Occasions - Will these days be | | | | re-work of one) that meets the needs of your family? |
| treated differently than the usual time sharing and have | | | | If not, you will need to write down the details of how |
| a separate schedule? Are school holidays that are not | | | | and when each parent will spend time with the children |
| public holidays included in this part? How will both | | | | for your Florida parenting plan. |