When Florida courts fashion timesharing plans, there are multiple factors which the Court must consider to determine the plan that is in the best interest of the children. The factors considered by the Court can be found in Florida Statute 61.13(3). It is important to understand each factor and to do your best to follow the statute even if the other parent is not cooperating. For example, factor 61.13(3)(l) states “the demonstrated capacity of each parent to communicate with and keep the other parent informed of issues and activities regarding the minor child, and the willingness of each parent to adopt a united front on all major issues when dealing with the child.”
If you and the other parent are not able to communicate face to face or via telephone, emails are a good way to provide information. If there is a problem with timely notice about appointments or activities, parents may wish to consider a program like Our Family Wizard which provides email communication and calendars for the parents to complete. The program records not only the events, but also time stamps each entry so that the parents and the Court can determine when the message or event was entered. This helps to cut down on the “he said – she said” aspect of your case.
Big decisions regarding the children should be made by both parents before discussing with the children. If, for example, your child asks to go to a concert, you should let the child know that you need to discuss it with the other parent first. Once you discuss the event, then give the child an answer. Don’t make the other parent into the “bad guy” if the answer is no. Presenting a united front provides a sense of security for your children and will help to prevent the children from playing parents against each other to get what they want in the future.