If you are involved in a Miami child custody case, chances are you’ve heard about a parenting plan. A Florida parenting plan is essentially a blueprint you and the other parent of your child ideally will follow in raising your child in separate homes. This plan can be created by the court, or even better, created through the agreement of the parents. Today we discuss some basic parenting plan elements so that you can get the ball rolling on creating a strategy for child-rearing success.
Florida law requires that a parenting plan at a minimum:
1. Daily Tasks: Describe in adequate detail how the parents will share and be responsible for the daily tasks associated with the upbringing of the child.
2. Visitation: Specify the time-sharing schedule arrangements that detail the time that the minor child will spend with each parent;
3. Parental Responsibility: Include a designation of who will be responsible for any and all forms of health care, school-related matters (including the address to be used for school boundary determination and registration) and other activities; and
4. Communication: Detail the methods and technologies that the parents will use to communicate with the child.
Every family is unique, so more issues beyond these basic elements need to be addressed. Here are some additional elements you may want to consider as well:
· Social Media Rules: Specify the age at which your child should be able to have accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. Agree with your ex to form a united front on enforcing rules that promote safe, age-appropriate and healthy social media habits for your child.
· Matters of Religion: If it is important that your child at least participate in the traditions of your faith, make sure to discuss this with your ex and to carve out in your parenting plan special holidays and other religious occasions your child will observe with you.
· Grooming: Many parents have strong feelings about cutting or dying a child’s hair; the age at which children should be allowed to wear make-up; whether or not a child’s ears should be pierced; etc. To cut down on potential conflict regarding these issues, your parenting plan should lay out once and for all what grooming is appropriate and/or how the parents will decide on a child’s grooming request.
There are many more issues specific to your family that should be discussed with your lawyer in creating your road map to parenting success. Contact a Miami child custody lawyer at Streets Law today to get customized advice on your parenting plan needs.