Parenting Plans & Time-Sharing

What Florida Law Requires in a Parenting Plan

Florida Statute §61.13 requires a written, court-approved parenting plan in every divorce or paternity case involving minor children. Under §61.046(14), the parenting plan is the governing document for decisions affecting a minor child. It isn’t optional, and a plan that omits required elements can be sent back to the trial court to add what’s missing.

At minimum, a valid parenting plan must cover:

Daily responsibilities: How parents share the tasks involved in raising the child day to day
Time-sharing schedule: The specific times the child spends with each parent, including holidays and overnights
Healthcare and school decisions: Which parent is responsible for healthcare choices, and which address is used for school-boundary registration
Communication methods: How each parent will communicate with the child, including the technologies permitted

Getting these designations right from the start can help prevent future disputes over what the plan actually requires. Ambiguity tends to surface at the worst possible moments.

How Florida Courts Set a Time-Sharing Schedule

Since July 1, 2023, Florida courts start from a presumption that equal time-sharing serves a child’s best interests. Either parent can rebut this presumption, but doing so requires evidence weighed against the statutory best-interest factors listed in §61.13(3).

Those factors include each parent’s capacity to foster the child’s relationship with the other parent, willingness to honor the schedule, and the stability of each home. Courts also consider the child’s school and community record, the moral fitness and mental and physical health of each parent, and the geographic distance between the parents’ residences. No single factor is controlling. Courts weigh all relevant circumstances together.

One factor carries particular weight. Under §61.13(2)(c), a parent with a qualifying domestic violence conviction faces a rebuttable presumption against shared or unsupervised time-sharing. The 2023 equal time-sharing presumption doesn’t override that protection.

Understanding how these factors interact matters whether you’re negotiating a schedule or presenting evidence at a hearing. An arrangement that looks straightforward on paper can become contested quickly when the statutory factors point in different directions.

Continue Reading Read Less

You're Our Priority

Florida Bar Board Certified in Marital & Family Law

Parenting plan and time-sharing matters involve a precise body of Florida statute, and the lawyer handling them should know that body of law well. Abigail Beebe is a Florida Bar Board Certified Marital and Family Law Specialist, a distinction held by fewer than one-half of one percent of the nearly 90,000 lawyers eligible to hold it in Florida.

The Florida Bar awards this certification only after peer review, a written examination, and demonstrated continuing legal education in the certification area. It isn’t a membership or a self-designation. It’s a recognition that a lawyer has met rigorous, independently verified standards in marital and family law.

West Palm Beach and Palm Beach families facing parenting plan disputes, time-sharing modifications, or contested custody matters turn to Beebe Law because that level of preparation shows in how we approach every case.

"Excellent Experience"
Abigail Beebe and her legal team were very professional throughout the course of my divorce. Abigail and her team responded in a timely manner, and I was not billed unnecessarily. Most importantly, I was extremely satisfied with the results!

- Edgar M.
"Exceptional Work"
Abby and her great staff helped me through a very difficult divorce. Her advice and work are exceptional. I highly recommend her firm.

- Former Client
"They Saved My Life"
Abigail Beebe saved my life literally! They are very knowledgeable In Domestic Violence and custody law. They listened to my needs and went to bat for me, I highly recommend to anyone who may be going through a difficult divorce.

- Carly S.
"She is Excellent"
I am very blessed to have Abby and her staff on my side. I could write on and on but not much more is needed other than she is EXCELLENT.

- Former Client
"Caring & Proficient"
Abigail Beebe is a very caring, proficient attorney. She will guide you and advise you no matter how difficult your family issues may be. My family is very appreciative of her kindness and professionalism.

- Former Client
"Great Experience"
She handled my case professionally and with my interests and best options in mind. Promptly responded to questions and made sure I understood what to expect during the whole divorce process.

- Former Client

View More Reviews

Parenting Plans & Time-Sharing in West Palm Beach

Florida Family Law Representation for Palm Beach County Parents

When parents separate or divorce, one of the most consequential decisions they face is how their children’s time will be structured going forward. A parenting plan isn’t just a scheduling document. It sets the legal framework for parental responsibility, healthcare decisions, school placement, and day-to-day communication for years to come. Getting it right the first time is far easier than litigating a modification later.

At Beebe Law, Abigail Beebe has focused her practice on Florida family law for 17 years. Our firm dedicates its attention exclusively to family law, including building, negotiating, and litigating parenting plans and time-sharing schedules for clients throughout West Palm Beach and Palm Beach.

If you’re navigating a parenting plan or time-sharing dispute in the West Palm Beach area, call us at (561) 677-9147 or reach out through our contact form to schedule a confidential consultation.

How Parenting Plan Cases Move Through Palm Beach County Courts

Palm Beach County family law matters, including time-sharing and parental responsibility disputes, are heard in the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit’s Unified Family Court. That court handles divorce, paternity, custody, and related domestic relations matters under one roof, which affects how cases are assigned, scheduled, and managed.

Parents who reach an agreement on their own can submit a proposed parenting plan for court approval. When parents can’t agree, the court establishes the plan based on the statutory best-interest factors and the evidence presented. Either path requires a legally sufficient document that meets Florida’s statutory requirements. We work with clients through both routes, preparing plans that satisfy the court and reflect what their family actually needs.

Start with a Confidential Consultation

Parenting plan matters move on court timelines, not convenient ones. The sooner you have legal guidance, the more options you may have. Contact Beebe Law by phone at (561) 677-9147 or through our contact form to schedule a confidential consultation with Abigail Beebe.

Modifying, Enforcing, & Relocating Under a Florida Parenting Plan

A parenting plan approved by the court is a legal order. Changing it, or moving away from it, requires following a specific legal process. Parents who skip that process can find themselves facing enforcement proceedings or losing ground in a later modification case.

Modification of Time-Sharing

To modify an existing parenting plan or time-sharing schedule, a parent must show a substantial, material change in circumstances since the original order and that the proposed change serves the child’s best interest. Courts apply both prongs; meeting one without the other isn’t enough. Changes in a child’s schooling, a parent’s relocation, or a significant shift in either parent’s situation can each support a modification petition, depending on the facts.

Parental Relocation

Florida Statute §61.13001 governs what happens when a parent wants to move. A move of 50 miles or more from the child’s primary residence lasting 60 or more consecutive days qualifies as a relocation under the statute. That move requires either written consent from the other parent or a court petition, and the other parent has a statutory window to object. Courts evaluate relocation requests against their own set of statutory factors and apply no presumption for or against the move itself.

Enforcement & Violations

When a parent willfully violates an approved parenting plan, Florida courts have remedies available, including makeup time-sharing, mandatory parenting classes, contempt sanctions, and an award of attorney’s fees to the parent who had to enforce the order. Documentation matters in these cases, and how violations are addressed early can shape how seriously the court treats future complaints.

Continue Reading Read Less

Contact Us

Fill out the form below or call (561) 677-9147 today.

First Name
Please enter your first name.
Last Name
Please enter your last name.
Phone
Please enter your phone number.

This isn't a valid phone number.
Email
Please enter your email address.

This isn't a valid email address.
Are you a new client?
Please make a selection.
How can we help you?
Please enter a message.
By submitting, you agree to receive text messages from Beebe Law at the number provided, including those related to your inquiry, follow-ups, and review requests, via automated technology. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Msg & data rates may apply. Msg frequency may vary. Reply STOP to cancel or HELP for assistance. Acceptable Use Policy

We Tell You the Truth
Experienced Legal Counsel
Responsive and Reachable
Certified Fellow of AAML