What are the Penalties for Violating a Parenting Plan in Florida?

In the State of Florida, judges decide child custody cases based on the best interests of the child. Parents are encouraged to develop their own parenting plan that reflects the interests of their children. As soon as the court approves the parenting plan, it becomes a legally binding document that must be followed by both parents. The courts will enforce its terms and impose penalties on those who violate them.

What penalties can the court impose for violating a parenting plan? 

It’s important to understand that a parenting plan is a court-approved order. The terms laid out in the parenting plan are legally binding on both parents. If one parent decides to violate the terms of the parenting plan, the court can take action against that parent. Failure to comply with the parenting plan will result in various penalties. Those include:

• Ordering the non-compliant parent to attend parenting classes
• Giving the parent who was wronged extra time with the child
• Sentencing the non-compliant parent to perform community service
• Modifying the parenting plan (if it is in the best interests of the child)
• Ordering the non-compliant parent to pay the other parent’s attorney fees and legal costs
• Holding the non-compliant parent in contempt of court, which could result in jail time and/or fines

Your reasons for violating the parenting plan matter. But you might be able to avoid potential problems with the court if you instead modify your child custody arrangements so that you don’t violate the terms.

Modifying a parenting plan in Florida

You might have valid reasons for why you cannot follow the terms of the parenting plan. Your job requirements, for instance, may have changed since the original custody order was entered. You might have a health condition that limits when you can spend time with your children. The issue could be with either the other parent or your child.

As a parent, you can petition the court for a modification when your circumstances change and impact the parenting plan. The process will be substantially easier if your coparent agrees to the modifications. However, if they refuse to work with you to modify the parenting plan, your Largo child custody lawyer can file a motion with the court in a bid to modify the existing plan.

As the petitioner who wants to modify the plan, you must establish that a substantial and unanticipated change in circumstances occurred to justify changing the parenting plan. Similar to the original custody order, the judge will decide the matter based on the best interests of the child. Your Largo child custody attorney can help you develop an argument to convince the judge that modifying the parenting plan is in the best interests of your child.

Talk to a Largo, FL Child Custody Lawyer Today 

Cairns Law, P.A. represents the interests of Largo parents who need to establish or modify a parenting plan. Call our Largo family lawyers today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin discussing your next steps right away.