4 Common Parenting Plans Mistakes and How Mediation Can Help Avoid Them

When spouses who have a minor child together divorce in Florida, one of the crucial steps is creating a parenting plan. This legal document outlines how parents will share time, responsibilities, and decision-making for their children. Even if you and your child’s other parent agree on how you will raise your child, you are legally required to create an official parenting plan.

In Florida, parents are allowed to draft parenting plans on their own. Unfortunately, many parents find themselves making mistakes when drafting these documents on their own. This is where mediators come in. Working with a skilled mediator can help parents avoid making mistakes. Below are four common parenting plan mistakes and how mediation can help prevent them.

1.    Being Vague

You and the other parent might consider using vague terms like “reasonable visitation” or “visitation as agreed” to avoid conflict. While this might seem flexible, it can quickly become a problem. Such terms can lead to confusion or be misinterpreted. This can result in disputes down the line.

A mediator can help ensure you are specific. They can guide you in creating a detailed and realistic plan. A mediator will work with you to;

• Define a clear time-sharing schedule that includes details about pickup and drop-off times, holiday breaks, transportation, school breaks, and other necessary details.
• Set clear expectations regarding how major child-related decisions will be made.
• Describe in detail how you and the other parent will communicate with the child.

The above specificity is encouraged under Florida Statutes section 61.13.

2.    Not Considering Your Child’s Best Interests

One of the biggest mistakes you can make is putting your needs before your child’s best interests. For example, some parents focus more on their schedules than their child’s routine. They create a timesharing schedule that suits their work hours but disrupts their child’s school or extracurricular activities. Others focus on revenge rather than what is best for their child.

In Florida, parenting plans must be based on a child’s best interests. A mediator can help you focus on your child’s best interests as required by law. They can help you and the other parent come up with solutions that support your child’s education, friendships, and stability while still allowing you to do your own things. Mediation can help you and your child’s other parent make compromises, which is vital for creating a plan that serves your child rather than your personal grievances.

3.    Making Emotional Decisions

When parents create parenting plans on their own, they can make decisions based on anger, resentment, or revenge. This can hurt your case and adversely affect your child.

A mediator is a neutral third party whose only focus is to ensure the child’s well-being. They can help facilitate productive conversations. They can de-escalate tension and ensure you make decisions based on logic and not emotions. This can lead to a more sustainable outcome.

4.    Failing To Consider Future Changes

Children grow, and circumstances change. For this reason, it is important to consider creating a flexible parenting plan. Parents are usually encouraged to work together to include clauses in their plan to allow for temporary or agreed-upon changes without the full modification process.

Your mediator can help you and the other parent include flexible legally-enforceable language in your plan.

Contact a Mediation Attorney

For help creating a parenting plan, contact our skilled mediation attorney, Darla K. Snead, P.L.