Parenting Time Plans
Effective January 1, 2018, the Child Support Program will incorporate parenting time plans, which have been agreed to and signed by both parents, into administrative orders that establish paternity or establish or modify support. Parenting time plans include a Title IV-D Standard Parenting Time Plan, as well as other parenting time plans that have been agreed to and signed by the parents. Parenting time plans are taken into consideration when the amount of child support is calculated under Florida's child support guidelines.
Once a parenting time plan is established and included in a child support order, changes to or enforcement of the plan may only be made by the court. The Child Support Program cannot modify or enforce a parenting time plan.
If parents do not have an agreed upon parenting time plan and do not agree to a parenting time plan at the time the administrative order is established or modified, a parenting time plan will not be included in the support order. In these cases, the Child Support Program will provide a form, Petition to Establish a Parenting Time Plan, to each parent, which can be filed by either parent in court to establish a parenting time plan.
The Title IV-D Standard Parenting Time Plan
The Title IV-D Standard Parenting Time Plan is a document that may be agreed to by parents to provide the parent who owes support a reasonable minimum amount of time with his or her child. The plan, set forth in section 409.25633, Florida Statutes, includes timetables that specify the time, including overnights and holidays, that a child is entitled to spend with each parent.
The Title IV-D Standard Parenting Time Plan is sent to both parents by mail when the Child Support Program is establishing paternity or establishing or modifying a support order through the administrative process and the following are true:
- Florida is the child's home state;
- Both parents live in Florida;
- The parent who owes support is not incarcerated;
- The Child Support Program is not aware of an existing court-ordered parenting time plan; and
- Neither parent has requested nondisclosure of location information due to fear of harm from the other parent.
The Child Support Program does not review, evaluate, negotiate or prepare parenting time plans.
Petition to Establish a Parenting Time Plan
If the parents have not provided an agreed upon, signed parenting time plan before the final administrative order is entered, the Child Support Program will enter the child support order and provide the parents a form, Petition to Establish a Parenting Time Plan, which may be filed in court by the parents. The Child Support Program cannot file the petition or represent either parent at the hearing.
Resources and Information About Establishing Parenting Time Plans in Florida
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