How Will The Senate Bill 590 Streamline Parenting Plans For Unmarried Parents?
Senate Bill 590 was signed into law by Governor Rick Scott on June 16, 2017. The new law grants authority to the Department of Revenue to setup binding parenting time plans that are agreed to by both parents.
Beginning January 1, 2018, the Department of Revenue will provide parents with a proposed Title IV-D Standard Parenting Time Plan. The proposed Parenting Time Plan is a template form that allows parents to agree to basic timeshare schedules that determine where the child will live, provisions for holidays, vacation schedules and other parental responsibilities.
If parents agree to be legally bound by the proposed Standard Parenting Time Plan, the plan will become an administrative Order and will be used by the Department of Revenue to calculate and establish a child support amount using Florida’s Child Support Guidelines.
Primary Factors Considered in Florida’s Child Support Guidelines:
In the State of Florida the Department of Revenue uses State child support guidelines to calculate support. The Department relies on two primary factors to determine the child support amount. Those factors are: Both parents’ monthly gross income, and the amount of time that each parent shares with the child.
When Parents Cannot Agree on a Parenting Time Plan:
While the aim of Senate Bill 590 is to streamline parenting plans for unmarried parents, the reality is that many unmarried parents are unable or unwilling to agree or cooperate in establishing a Parenting Time Plan. In these cases, Senate Bill 590 mandates that the Department of Revenue refer parents to a circuit court to seek the courts assistance in establishing a court-ordered Parenting Time Plan that can then be used to calculate child support.
Petition to Establish Parenting Time Plan:
If parents do not agree to the department’s proposed Parenting Time Plan, a judge or other judicial officer may be required to intervene and make Court Orders regarding each parent’s timeshare with their children. In the event you need to establish a court ordered Parenting Time Plan, it is imperative that you speak with an experienced Florida family law attorney.
How Can a Lawyer Help With A Proposed Parenting Time Plan?
A skilled Orlando family law attorney can advise you of your rights and obligations related to any agreements reached in the proposed plan, and if necessary, the attorney can negotiate on your behalf for a more favorable agreement. If the proposed Parenting Time Plan is made an administrative order it then becomes a legally binding document and may have other legal and financial ramifications, and in some cases, some individuals may benefit by first seeking qualified legal counsel before signing the proposed parenting plan.
Florida Child Custody Lawyers Serving Orlando & Surrounding Areas
If the Department of Revenue has provided you with a proposed Parenting Time Plan, it is always prudent to first speak with an experienced Orlando Florida family attorney before agreeing to the proposed Parenting Time Plan. This ensures that the agreement is in your best interest and in the best interest of your children. Contact Arwani Law Firm , in Florida. We can help.
References:
flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/590
floridarevenue.com/childsupport/parenting_time_plans/Pages/default.aspx
floridarevenue.com/childsupport/Documents/pdf/CS-PTP01_n.1.18.pdf
leg.state.fl.us/statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=0000-0099/0061/Sections/0061.30.html
