Florida Custody Agreement
In Florida, marital settlement agreements contain custody agreements. The custody agreements could be as simple as denoting that each parent has fair visitation (usually used if the parents get along with each other and are on speaking terms) or could go so far as to outline a complicated visitation schedule for weekends, weekly visits or overnights and rotating holidays.
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Types
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In most cases, the parties opt for a primary and secondary arrangement. The child lives with the primary residential parent most of the time, and the secondary parent gets "fair and reasonable" visitation. Visitation is usually every other weekend, one four-hour visit each week (usually Wednesday) and rotating holidays. Rotating holidays allow each parent to spend each holiday with the child every other year.
If the parties live close together, they can opt for 50-50 shared custody. The minor child stays with one parent for a period of time, usually a week or two weeks, then stays with the other parent for an equal amount of time. Holidays are shared on a rotating basis--each party gets the child for a specific holiday, every other year.
Medical Care
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Regardless of the type of custody arrangement the parties choose, both parties are responsible for the medical care of the child, and the terms are outlined in the child custody agreement. Either parent might provide insurance--usually whichever parent has the best insurance through his job. If neither parent has insurance through work, one of the parents provides insurance, and gets credit for insurance via the child support guidelines.
Both parties pay for uncovered medial costs. The parties could each elect to pay half of the uncovered medical costs, or they could pay a share based on percentages dictated by the Child Support Guidelines. One parent must obtain permission from the other parent for any elective surgery or medical care.
Child Care
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Child care is also outlined in the custody agreement. If there is a cost for child care, the cost is figured into the child support guidelines, and each parent pays a percentage of the child care cost. If the child is in private school, and the parents elect not to pay an amount dictated by the Child Support Guidelines, the agreement spells out the amount each parent pays and the frequency of the payments. The payments could be made directly to the school or to the other parent, and are outlined in the custody agreement.
Parenting Course
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Every parent must take a court-approved four-hour parenting course that can be taken at a community college. If a parent has extenuating circumstances, i.e. she is in the military and is overseas for several months, the parent could take the parenting course online.
Parenting Plan
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Each custody agreement must be accompanied with a parenting plan. The parenting plan is an outline of the custody agreement and is filed in the court file. It could be used in lieu of a custody agreement, but it is best to have an agreement that goes into more detail than the parenting plan.
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