In Florida, divorces with children involved primarily focus on the parenting plan first. The parenting plan determines numerous factors in raising your children and will be the document most referred to after the divorce is finalized. It is important that the plan is tailored to you and your children and accounts for the best interest of the children. Before filing for divorce, you should consider whether you would like to request one of the following:
- Shared Parental Responsibility: Both parents confer and jointly make all major decisions affecting the welfare of the children, such as education, healthcare, etc.
- Shared Parental Responsibility with Decision Making Authority: Both parents attempt to agree on major decisions, but one parent will have the ultimate decision-making authority.
- Sole Parental Responsibility: One parent has the sole authority to make major decisions for the children and it is proven detrimental to the children to have shared parental responsibility.
Other details to consider when formulating a parenting plan:
- Weekday and Weekend Schedule
- Holiday schedule
- Winter/Spring/Summer Breaks
- Extracurricular activities
- Transportation and Exchange of the Children
- Foreign and Out-of-State Travel
- Education
- Child Care
- Communication between the parents and between the parent and children
- Future relocation
- Substance abuse/domestic violence history by a parent
You need to review the school calendar, extracurricular activity information, school information and costs, child care information and costs to account for that information in your parenting plan.
Constructing a solid parenting plan that is in your children’s best interest can be complex and you need an experienced Jacksonville Divorce Lawyer to assist you. Contact the Law Office of David M. Goldman, PLLC for a consultation to discuss your children’s future after divorce.