The Florida family law courts have the authority to enter orders regarding custody, and this state uses some unique terminology in its child custody decisions. 

The courts make decisions on behalf of families that do not agree about how to share parental rights and responsibilities after the end of the relationship between the parents. The court can order child support, and they can also create a plan for “time-sharing.”

What would a time-sharing plan involve?

Time-sharing refers to the shared physical custody of the children

The parent who currently has the responsibility to take care of the children is the one who has physical custody. Even if the children are visiting a friend or at school, that parent is responsible for them until the end of their parenting time. A time-sharing plan outlines the schedule for how parents will split physical custody of the children. 

Typically, time-sharing arrangements need to talk about both the school year and vacations. Weekends, holidays and birthdays, as well as summer vacations, can factor into the plan parents create for sharing time. The time-sharing plan from your divorce determines how much you will see your children and how you address special occasions as they arise. 

Although there are certain standard rules, the Florida courts do accept time-sharing plans created by the parents of a child and also try to make the court order reflect family situations. Thinking about what kind of involvement is most important to your relationship with the children can help you push for the best possible terms in your time-sharing plan and the overall parenting plan for your Florida divorce.