Parenting Plan {12.995(a)}

INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLORIDA SUPREME COURT APPROVED FAMILY LAW002 FORM 12.995(a), 002PARENTING PLAN (02/18)002 When should this form be used? A Parenting Plan is required in all cases involving time-sharing with minor child(ren), even when time-sharing is not in dispute. The Parenting Plan must be developed and agreed to by the parents and approved by the court. If the parties cannot agree to a Parenting Plan or if the parents agreed to a plan that is not approved by the court, a Parenting Plan will be established by the court with or without the use of parenting plan recommendations. This form or a similar form should be used in the development of a Parenting Plan. If the case involves supervised time-sharing, the Supervised/Safety Focused Parenting Plan, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.995(b) or a similar form should be used. If the case involves relocation, pursuant to Section 61.13001, Florida Statutes, then a Relocation/Long Distance Parenting Plan, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.995(c) or a similar form should be used. The parents must identify a name or designation to be used throughout this Parenting Plan. This form should be typed or printed in black ink. Please either delete or strike-through terms or paragraphs that are inappropriate or inapplicable to your agreement. If an agreement has been reached, both parties must sign the Parenting Plan and have their signatures witnessed by a notary public or deputy clerk. After completing this form, you should file the original with the clerk of the circuit court in the county where the petition was filed and keep a copy for your records. You should then refer to the instructions for your petition, answer, or answer and counterpetition concerning the procedures for setting a hearing or trial (final hearing). If the parents have not reached an agreement, a proposed Parenting Plan may be filed by either parent at the time of or any time prior to the final hearing. If an agreed Parenting Plan is not filed by the parties, the court shall establish a Plan. IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING E-FILING The Florida Rules of Judicial Administration now require that all petitions, pleadings, and documents be filed electronically except in certain circumstances. Self-represented litigants may file petitions or other pleadings or documents electronically; however, they are not required to do so. If you choose to file your pleadings or other documents electronically, you must do so in accordance with Florida rule of Judicial Administration 2.525, and you must follow the procedures of the judicial circuit in which you file. The rules and procedures should be carefully read and followed. IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING E-SERVICE ELECTION After the initial service of process of the petition or supplemental petition by the Sheriff or certified process server, the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration now require that all documents required or permitted to be served on the other party must be served by electronic mail (e-mail) except in certain Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.995(a), Parenting Plan (02/18) American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com circumstances. You must strictly comply with the format requirements set forth in the Rules of Judicial Administration. If you elect to participate in electronic service, which means serving or receiving pleadings by electronic mail (e-mail), or through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, you must review Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.516. You may find this rule at www.flcourts.org through the link to the Rules of Judicial Administration provided under either Family Law Forms: Getting Started, or Rules of Court in the A-Z Topical Index. SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANTS MAY SERVE DOCUMENTS BY E-MAIL; HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT REQUIRED TO DO SO. If a self-represented litigant elects to serve and receive documents by e-mail, the procedures must always be followed once the initial election is made. To serve and receive documents by e-mail, you must designate your e-mail addresses by using the Designation of Current Mailing and E-mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915, and you must provide your e-mail address on each form on which your signature appears. Please CAREFULLY read the rules and instructions for: Certificate of Service (General), Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.914; Designation of Current Mailing and E-mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915; and Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.516. Where can I look for more information? -beginning of these forms. The words that are in bold underlinein these instructions are defined there. For further information, see chapter 61, Florida Statutes, and the instructions for the petition and/or answer that were filed in this case. Special notes... At a minimum, the Parenting Plan must describe in adequate detail: How the parties will share and be responsible for the daily tasks associated with the upbringing of the child(ren), The time-sharing schedule arrangements that specify the time that the minor child(ren) will spend with each parent, 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, other activities, and The methods and technologies that the parents will use to communicate with the child(ren). The best interests of the child(ren) is the primary consideration in the Parenting Plan. In creating the Parenting Plan, all circumstances between the parents, including their historic relationship, domestic violence, and other factors must be taken into consideration. Determination of the best interests of the child(ren) shall be made by evaluating all of the factors affecting the welfare and interest of the particular minor child(ren) and the circumstances of that family, as listed in section 61.13(3), Florida Statutes, including, but not limited to: Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.995(a), Parenting Plan (02/18) American LegalNet, Inc. www.FormsWorkFlow.com The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to facilitate and encourage a close and continuing parent-child relationship, to honor the time-sharing schedule, and to be reasonable when changes are required; 003 The anticipated division of parental responsibilities after the litigation, including the extent to which parental responsibilities will be delegated to third parties; 003 The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to determine, consider, and act upon the needs of the child(ren) as opposed to the needs or desires of the parent; 003 The length of time the child(ren) has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment and the desirability of maintaining continuity; 003 The geographic viability of the parenting plan, with special attention paid to the needs of school-age children and the amount of time to be spent traveling to effectuate the parenting plan. This factor does not create a presumption for or against relocation of either parent with a child(ren); 003 The moral fitness of the parents; 003 The mental and physical health of the parents; 003 The home, school, and community record of the child(ren); 003 The reasonable preference of the child(ren), if the court deems the child(ren) to be of sufficient intelligence, understanding, and experience to express a preference; 003 The demonstrated knowledge, capacity, and disposition of each parent to be informed of the circumstances of the minor child(ren), including, but not limited to, the child(ren)teachers, medical care providers, daily activities, and favorite things; 003 The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to provide a consistent routine for the child(ren), such as discipline, and daily schedules for homework, meals, and bedtime; 003 The demonstrated capacity of each parent to communicate with and keep the other parent informed of issues and activities regarding the minor child(ren), and the willingness of each parent to adopt a unified front on