Florida’s Standardized Visitation Schedules For Parents
Florida implemented a new child custody law known as the Standard Parenting Time Plan that impacted how visitation schedules should be standardized in the state of Florida. The purpose of the law was to standardize the way in which visitation worked under our state laws. The intention of the bill was to shift the focus back to the best interests of the child.
Those who are negotiating a parenting plan with their former spouse should understand how the bill works. This will allow them to know what to expect. In this article, we’ll discuss the rules below.
How the Standard Parenting Time Plan works
The rules of the law can be found in Statute 409.25633. The rules make the following recommendations for the non-custodial parent (or the parent with whom the children do not live):
- Every other weekend – The non-custodial parent will get the second and fourth weekend of the month from 6 pm Friday to 6 pm Sunday. Visitation may also begin when the child is released from school on Friday and when the child returns to school on Monday. The weekend can also be extended when there is a holiday on Monday or Friday.
- One weekday evening per week – The non-custodial parent will receive one weekday per week that will begin at 6 pm and end at 8 pm the same day. The parent may also begin their weekday after the child is picked up from school if both parents agree to the arrangement.
- Thanksgiving break – The non-custodial parent will receive Thanksgiving break in even numbered years. This will begin at 6 pm on the Wednesday before or after Thanksgiving ends at 6pm on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It can also begin when the child is released from school the day before Thanksgiving break and end when the child returns to school on Monday.
- Winter break – In odd-numbered years, the non-custodial parent would receive the first half of winter break. This would begin at the child’s release from school for winter break and end on December 26th. In even-numbered years, the non-custodial parent would receive the second half of winter break beginning on December 26th and ending at 6 pm the day before the child returns to school. Alternatively, it can end the morning when the child returns to school.
- Spring break – In even numbered years, the non-custodial parent would receive visitation beginning at 6 pm on the day the child is released from school and ending at 6 pm the night before the child goes back to school. It can also begin when the child is released from school and end the morning when the child returns.
- Summer break – The non-custodial parent would receive two weeks in the summer every year to be agreed upon by both parents.
Talk to a Tampa, FL Divorce Lawyer Today
If you need to make a change to your visitation schedule, you want to have the matter put in writing. Call the Tampa family lawyers at Faulkner Law Group, PLLC today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin addressing your concerns immediately.
