Every Florida divorce or paternity case involving a minor child ends with a parenting plan: the court-approved document that sets out where your child lives, when each parent has time-sharing, and how big decisions get made. This guide covers which form to use, what the plan must include, real schedule examples, and how to change a plan later.
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Take the Florida Parenting Class →What Is a Parenting Plan in Florida?
Under Florida Statutes § 61.13, a parenting plan is the document that governs the relationship between the parents about the decisions that must be made for the child, and it contains the time-sharing schedule. Parents can agree on a plan and submit it for approval. If they can’t agree, the judge creates one.
A plan is required in every case that involves time-sharing with a minor child, even when the parents agree on everything. The court must approve it, and the judge checks one thing above all: whether the plan is in the best interests of the child.
Which Florida Parenting Plan Form Do You Need?
The Florida Supreme Court publishes three approved parenting plan forms. Pick the one that fits your family:
| Form | Use it when | Typical situations |
|---|---|---|
| 12.995(a) Parenting Plan | Parents live close enough for regular time-sharing | Most divorces and paternity cases, including 50/50 schedules |
| 12.995(b) Supervised/Safety-Focused Parenting Plan | Time-sharing needs supervision or safety limits | Domestic violence, substance abuse, or other safety concerns |
| 12.995(c) Relocation/Long-Distance Parenting Plan | One parent is relocating or the parents live far apart | Moves under § 61.13001, out-of-area or out-of-state parents |
The forms are available from the Florida Courts self-help pages and from your county clerk. Check that you are using the current version before you file.
What a Florida Parenting Plan Must Include
Section 61.13(2)(b) requires, at a minimum, that the plan:
- Describes in adequate detail how the parents will share and be responsible for the daily tasks of raising the child
- Includes the time-sharing schedule, with the time the child spends with each parent
- Says who is responsible for health care, school-related matters (including the address used for school boundary purposes) and other activities
- Describes the methods and technologies the parents will use to communicate with the child
Good plans go further: holiday rotation, exchange times and locations, travel rules, how to handle schedule swaps, and how disagreements get resolved before anyone files a motion.
Florida Time-Sharing Schedule Examples
Since July 1, 2023, Florida law presumes that equal time-sharing is in the child’s best interests. A parent can rebut that presumption by proving, by a preponderance of the evidence, that equal time-sharing is not in the child’s best interests. In practice, that makes 50/50 schedules the starting point for many families. Here are the most common options.
50/50 Schedules
| Schedule | How it works | Works best for |
|---|---|---|
| Alternating weeks | Child spends one full week with each parent, switching on the same day each week | Older children, parents who live farther apart |
| 2-2-5-5 | Mon–Tue with Parent A, Wed–Thu with Parent B, then alternating Fri–Sun weekends | School-age kids who want fixed weekdays |
| 2-2-3 | Two days, two days, three days, flipping each week | Younger children who shouldn’t go long without seeing either parent |
| 3-4-4-3 | Three days with one parent and four with the other, then reversed the next week | Families who want fewer exchanges than 2-2-3 |
Majority Time-Sharing Schedules
When equal time-sharing doesn’t fit (distance, work schedules, or the child’s needs), a common pattern is one parent having the child during the school week and the other parent having alternating weekends plus a midweek visit or dinner, with holidays and summer split more evenly.
Long-Distance Schedules
For parents who live far apart, the usual approach is the school year with one parent and most of the summer, spring break, and alternating major holidays with the other, plus regular video calls. Use form 12.995(c) and spell out who pays for travel and how the child travels.
Holidays and School Breaks
Most Florida plans either alternate holidays by year (odd/even) or split them (for example, Thanksgiving with one parent and winter break divided in half). Write in exact start and end times. Vague holiday language is one of the most common reasons parents end up back in court.
Relocation and Long-Distance Parenting Plans
Under § 61.13001, relocation means a change in a parent’s principal residence of at least 50 miles from where they lived when the last order was entered, for at least 60 consecutive days. A parent who wants to relocate with the child needs either a written agreement signed by the other parent or court approval. The law doesn’t presume for or against relocation; the judge decides based on the child’s best interests.
Agreed vs. Contested Parenting Plans
If you and the other parent agree, you can sign a plan together and submit it with your case. If you don’t, mediation is commonly required before a contested hearing, and the judge decides any issues you can’t settle. Either way, the judge will look at the best-interest factors listed in § 61.13(3), such as each parent’s willingness to support the child’s relationship with the other parent, stability, and the child’s developmental needs.
Read more about how judges weigh those factors in our guide to Florida custody and time-sharing laws.
Don’t Forget the Required Parenting Class
Separate from the parenting plan, § 61.21 requires both parents in a divorce or paternity case with minor children to complete a 4-hour Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course. The petitioner has 45 days from filing and the respondent has 45 days from being served. Courts can delay your final judgment if it isn’t done, so it’s smart to finish it early while you work on the plan.
Get the required parenting class done today
Petitioners have 45 days from filing and respondents have 45 days from being served. Finish our DCF-approved course online at your own pace and download your court certificate the moment you pass. Full money-back guarantee, no time limit.
Take the Florida Parenting Class →How to Change a Florida Parenting Plan
A parenting plan can only be modified if there has been a substantial and material change in circumstances and the change is in the child’s best interests. If both parents agree, they can submit an agreed modified plan. If not, the parent asking for the change files a supplemental petition to modify the parenting plan and time-sharing schedule. Until the court approves a new plan, the existing one stays in force, so follow it.
Tips for a Parenting Plan That Actually Works
- Use exact days, times, and exchange locations. “Reasonable time-sharing” invites fights.
- Plan for the next few years, not just this year: school changes, summer camps, a teenager’s schedule.
- Agree on one communication channel for parenting logistics, such as a co-parenting app or a shared calendar. If every conversation turns into a fight, build in parallel parenting rules.
- Write down how you will handle swaps and missed time so small changes don’t become court motions.
- Keep the focus on the child. Judges notice when a plan is built around the parents’ convenience or conflict.
Florida Parenting Plan FAQs
Is a parenting plan required in every Florida divorce with children?
Yes. Florida requires a court-approved parenting plan in every case involving time-sharing with a minor child, even when the parents agree on everything.
Is 50/50 time-sharing automatic in Florida?
Not automatic, but since July 1, 2023, Florida law presumes equal time-sharing is in the child’s best interests. A parent can rebut that presumption by proving, by a preponderance of the evidence, that equal time-sharing is not in the child’s best interests.
Which form do I use for a long-distance parenting plan in Florida?
Use Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.995(c), the Relocation/Long-Distance Parenting Plan. Form 12.995(a) is the standard plan and 12.995(b) is the Supervised/Safety-Focused plan.
Can we write our own parenting plan instead of using the form?
Parents can agree on their own terms, but the plan must cover what § 61.13 requires and the judge must approve it. Many parents start from the Supreme Court form and add details.
Do both parents have to take a parenting class too?
Yes. Under § 61.21, both parents in a Florida divorce or paternity case with minor children must complete a 4-hour Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course from a DCF-approved provider.
This article is general education about Florida law, not legal advice. Statutes and court forms change, and every case is different. For advice about your situation, talk to a Florida family law attorney or your local self-help center.