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Parenting Plans Mediation in Southwest Florida

When two parents don’t live together with their children—whether in the wake of a divorce, a separation, or any other situation—sharing parenting roles can be difficult. It can certainly be a challenge to navigate legal issues involving your children, and it’s natural to feel frustrated or even completely overwhelmed.

Have you considered the mediation process? If you are struggling with creating a child custody agreement and parenting plan—or if you need to modify or enforce an existing timesharing plan—you don’t always have to turn to litigation. A parenting plan mediator may be able to help you work out contentious issues so you can arrive at an agreement that is best for the children and fair for everyone involved. 

If you need assistance developing or modifying a timesharing plan, reach out to Christina Florand at Florand Mediation, LLC. Christina Florand is a Florida Supreme Court certified family and civil court mediator serving clients throughout southwest Florida, including Bradenton, Clearwater, Nokomis, North Port, Osprey, Port Charlotte, Sarasota, St. Petersburg, Tampa, and Venice. Set up a one-on-one consultation today. 

Florida Child Custody & Parenting Plans: An Overview

You may be wondering: How do I create a parenting plan in the first place? You do not have to do it on your own. Ultimately, child custody agreements and timesharing plans are about your children. Their best interests should be a guiding light when it comes to any kind of agreement or plan.

Typically, courts in Florida consider a number of factors in determining child custody. Generally speaking, these include the existing relationship the children have with each parent, the mental and physical health of each parent, each parent’s ability to provide stability, how children are performing in school, and other factors. 

Understanding Parenting Plan Mediation

It’s natural to have questions when it comes to parenting plans in Florida. For instance, how much time will your children get to spend with you? How will you share the daily demands of raising your children with the other parent? Which parent’s address will be listed as your child’s primary residence? It isn’t always easy to come to an agreement about these issues. A parenting plan mediator, however, can make this entire process run more smoothly and efficiently. 

Benefits of Parenting Plan Mediation

Mediation has become a popular alternative to traditional attorney-led methods of resolving key issues involving families and children. There’s a reason why so many Florida families turn to mediation: it works.  

Here are some of the benefits of the mediation process when it comes to creating and modifying parenting plans: 

  • Mediation can resolve contentious issues more quickly and more amicably. When it comes to you and your children, so much is on the line. That’s why it’s vital to turn to a mediator to help calm things down and move the process along. There’s no need to get stuck in the mud when it comes to what matters most.  
     

  • Mediation can help save time. Contentious court cases often drag out for months or even years. With a mediator in the room, both parties can strive to resolve their issues in a more timely manner. 
      

  • Mediation can help save money. It may be tempting to retain the services of an attorney. For many families, though, there’s a financial barrier. At Florand Mediation, LLC, the goal is to help move your case forward without breaking the bank. 
     

  • Mediation can preserve important relationships. Litigation can break families apart. Mediation, on the other hand, has the potential to bring families together. Don’t underestimate the power of level-headedness and a shared pursuit of a fair outcome. 
      

  • Mediation can preserve privacy. Court cases throw you and your family into the public eye. Mediation, on the other hand, is concerned with resolving issues in a private manner. 

Many clients come to Florand Mediation, LLC with the intent of not only engaging in mediation, but also modifying an already-existing parenting plan. 

How Do I Modify an Existing Parenting Plan?

As children grow up, certain changes need to be made to parenting plans. Significant life changes can create a need for modification of an existing child custody and parenting plan. You may lose your job or be promoted; your health status may drastically change; one parent’s lack of compliance with the existing plan may necessitate another look at the parenting plan; any number of issues can create the need for modification.  

Keep in mind that parenting plans are court orders. You must comply with them unless and until the court enters a new parenting plan. Parents who can agree to modifications can file a new timesharing plan with the court for approval. If they cannot agree, mediation may be an expedient and cost-efficient way to reach a consensus. With the guidance of a certified mediator, you and the other parent can attempt to work through the issues, reach an agreement on modification of the existing timesharing plan, and present the agreement to the court for approval. 

Representing Families with Care

Christina Florand understands how challenging parenting can be. That’s why she offers mediation services to parents who need to create, modify, or enforce timesharing plans that benefit their children most. She uses her training, experience, calm demeanor, and even humor to help parents tackle one of the most challenging issues they will face—and one with the most at stake. If you need to negotiate a parenting plan in southwest Florida, reach out to Florand Mediation, LLC, today.