What Are the Penalties for Violating the Terms of a Parenting Plan in Florida?

Modifying a parenting plan can be tricky. You need to establish certain factors before the court will hear your argument. Instead, many parents think that they can unilaterally change the terms of a parenting plan without either consulting the other spouse or the court. If you try this, the court will not be happy and could sanction you for non-compliance. In this article, the Largo child custody attorneys at Cairns Law, P.A. will discuss what sanctions the court can impose on an individual who violates the terms of a parenting plan.

Penalties for violating a parenting plan

Parenting plans are court-approved orders with specific terms that are legally binding on both parties. If one party violates the terms of a parenting plan, the court can sanction that party using various methods.

Failing to comply with a parenting plan can result in several different penalties. These include:

• Giving the wronged parent extra time with the child
• Forcing the non-compliant parent to perform community service
• Forcing the non-compliant parent to attend parenting classes
• Modifying the original parenting plan (if that is in the best interests of the child)
• Forcing the non-compliant parent to pay attorney fees and legal costs incurred by the other parent
• Holding a parent in contempt of court, which can result in jail time or fines

This is what could happen when one parent unilaterally decides to change or violate the terms of a parenting plan. However, the courts allow you to modify the terms of a parenting plan so that you don’t violate its terms.

Modifying a parenting plan in Florida 

You may have valid reasons for not being able to follow the parenting plan as it is written. Job requirements may have changed since the original custody order was entered. The payer of child support may have a new family or a health condition that limits their parenting abilities.

If your circumstances change significantly and you can no longer follow the terms of a parenting plan, you can petition the court for a modification. The process is made one hundred times easier if the other parent agrees to the proposed modifications. If the other parent refuses to work with you, you may need a judge to intervene to determine which parent is in the right.

A parent can petition the court for a modification when circumstances change that impact the parenting plan. If the other parent refuses to work with you, you can have a Largo child custody attorney file a motion with the court.

To do so, you must prove that a substantial and unanticipated change in circumstances justifies making a change to the parenting plan. The judge will decide whether to make the modification based on whether or not it suits the best interests of the child. Your attorney will help you develop a compelling argument that convinces the judge to modify the original plan.

Talk to a Largo, FL Child Custody Lawyer Today 

The Largo family law attorneys at Cairns Law, P.A. represent the interests of parents who are disputing whether or not they should change a parenting plan. Call our office today to schedule an appointment, and we can begin discussing your next steps right away.