AO 2019-001

IN THE THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA

Administrative Order No.

2019-001

IN RE:Establishing Parenting Plan for Parents Never Married

IN THE THIRD JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA

Administrative Order No.: 2019-001

ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER APPROVING FAMILY LAW SELF-HELP FORM PETITION TO ESTABLISH PARENTING PLAN WITH TIME-SHARING SCHEDULE WITH MINOR CHILD(REN) OF PARENTS WHO WERE NEVER MARRIED

WHEREAS, pursuant to §409.25633, Florida Statutes, Title IV-D Standard Parenting Time
Plans, which became effective January 1, 2018, specifically subsections (4) and (7) require that
the Department of Revenue (DOR) create and provide a form for a petition to establish a
parenting plan for parents who have never been married, and who have not agreed on a parenting
time-sharing schedule at the time of the child support administrative hearing.
Further, this Administrative Order directs DOR to refer the parents to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction for the establishment of a parenting plan with a time-sharing schedule; and

WHEREAS, a policy is needed locally to adopt uniform procedures, and to ensure that all parties
adhere to the statutory requirements for establishing parental responsibility and a
parenting plan with a time-sharing schedule for minor child(ren) of parents who have never been
married, but where paternity has been previously established by a court of appropriate jurisdiction.

THEREFORE; this Court enters this administrative order adopting uniform procedures for
establishing a parenting time-sharing schedule for minor child(ren) of parents who have
never been married. Effective immediately, the following procedures will be adhered to in all
cases in which either parent seeks to establish a parenting time-sharing schedule for
minor child(ren) of parents who have never been married.

1. When a petition is filed seeking entry of a parenting plan with time-sharing schedule for
minor child(ren) of parents who have never been married, it will be considered a new filing in
the Family Law division and will be assigned a “DR” designation.

2. If paternity has been established by final judgment in a child support enforcement
proceeding filed by the Department of Revenue or other IV-D child support
enforcement agency, or by an acknowledgement of paternity signed in conformity
with §742.10(1), Florida Statutes, a parent who was never married to the other parent may use the local form adopted by the Third Judicial Circuit of Florida to establish parental
responsibility and to obtain a parenting plan with a time-sharing schedule.

3. If paternity has not been established, the parent must file a Petition to
Determine Paternity and for Related Relief, Florida Supreme Court approved Family Law Form
12.983.

4. The Clerk of Circuit Court is directed to file a copy of the Administrative Support
Order in the court file containing the Petition to Establish Parenting Plan with Time­ Sharing
Schedule with Minor Child(ren) of Parents Who Were Never Married.

5. Pending approval of the final or revised interim forms, the attached forms are
approved for use in the Third Judicial Circuit.

DONE AND ORDERED in Columbia County, Florida on March 6 , 2019.

 

WESLEY R. DOUGLAS, CHIEF JUDGE
Third Judicial Circuit

cc (with enclosure):

Judges – Third Judicial Circuit
Clerks of Court – Third Judicial Circuit Family Court Support Unit
John Lake – Court Technology Officer (web posting)

Wesley R. Douglas