Parenting Plans In Florida: Things That Must Be Included

Splitting up when you have kids brings a long list of decisions that suddenly need to be made on paper instead of worked out as you go. That document is called a parenting plan, and Florida courts require one in nearly every case involving minor children, whether parents were married or not. So what actually has to be in it? Let’s walk through the basics.

What Is a Parenting Plan, Exactly?

Think of a parenting plan as the rulebook for how two parents will raise a child while living apart. It covers the practical stuff, like where the child sleeps on a Tuesday, and the bigger stuff, like who decides on medical treatment or which school the child attends. Florida law does not leave this to chance. Section 61.13 of the Florida Statutes sets out minimum required parenting plan provisions, meaning parents cannot simply skip the parts they find inconvenient.

What Has to Be Included?

Have you ever tried to plan a family vacation and realized halfway through that nobody discussed who’s driving or where everyone’s sleeping? A parenting plan exists so that kind of confusion does not happen with something as important as raising a child. Florida law lists several specific items that must appear in every plan:

• A description of how parents will share daily tasks involved in raising the child
• A time-sharing schedule showing when the child will be with each parent, including holidays and school breaks
• A clear breakdown of who is responsible for decisions about school, health care, and other activities affecting the child
• The methods and technology parents will use to communicate about the child, such as phone calls, email, or co-parenting apps

These requirements exist because the parenting plan governs decisions that must be made regarding the minor child, and Florida courts want that structure spelled out clearly rather than left open to interpretation later.

Why Does This Level of Detail Matter?

It might seem like overkill to write down something as small as who handles school pickup on a rainy Wednesday. But ambiguity is often where conflict grows. A detailed plan gives both parents, and the child, something stable to rely on. It also gives a court a clear standard to enforce if one parent stops following the agreement. Courts generally favor plans that parents work out together, but if parents cannot agree, the judge will create one based on what serves the child’s best interests.

It is also worth knowing that a parenting plan is not necessarily permanent. Life changes, jobs move, schedules shift, and children grow older with different needs. Florida law allows for modification of a plan when circumstances change significantly, though that process has its own requirements and is not something handled lightly or informally.

Where to Go From Here

Every family situation looks a little different, and what belongs in one parenting plan might not fit another at all. If you are working through a custody matter or trying to understand what your plan should include, talking with someone who handles this regularly can make the process far less overwhelming. We encourage you to reach out to our team at Greater Orlando Family Law so we can talk through your specific situation. Our Orlando family law attorneys help parents throughout Central Florida put together plans that hold up and that actually work for their families day to day. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with one of our Orlando family law lawyers.

Source:

flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2025/61.13