Parenting plans and time-sharing
Florida uses parenting plans and time-sharing schedules to describe how parents will make decisions and spend time with their children. “Time-sharing” is the term often used where people previously said “visitation.” A plan can address school, health care, communication, exchanges, holidays, travel, and how future disagreements will be handled.
The court’s focus is the child’s best interests. Safety concerns, each parent’s involvement, and the family’s day-to-day needs may affect the evidence and requested terms. A proposed schedule should also be realistic enough to follow.
Paternity
A paternity case establishes legal parentage and may also resolve parental responsibility, time-sharing, and child support. The route to establishing paternity depends on the family’s circumstances, including any existing acknowledgment or order. Addressing legal status early can prevent confusion about rights and obligations.
Changing an existing order
Families change. A move, a new schedule, or another substantial development may lead a parent to seek modification. The applicable standard and required proof depend on the order and the requested change; until modified, an existing order remains important.
For statutory background, see Florida Statutes § 61.13 and Chapter 742.