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| Parenting Course Requirement |
WILSON
LAW FIRM, P.L.
Attorney at Law
LAW FIRM, P.L.
Attorney at Law
W
Orange County Florida Divorce Attorney & Orlando Family Law Lawyer
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Call the Wilson Law Firm Today at: (407) 648-5255
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general information. The facts of your case are unique, and you should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. Contact the Wilson Law
Firm to speak with an Orlando divorce lawyer and Orange County Florida family law attorney today. The Wilson Law Firm, P.L. © 2010
advertisements. The information presented at this site is not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. This site is designed to provide only
general information. The facts of your case are unique, and you should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. Contact the Wilson Law
Firm to speak with an Orlando divorce lawyer and Orange County Florida family law attorney today. The Wilson Law Firm, P.L. © 2010
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Florida Statute 61.21 - Parenting course authorized; fees; required attendance authorized; contempt.
(1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; PURPOSE. It is the finding of the Legislature that:
(a) A large number of children experience the separation or divorce of their parents each year. Parental conflict
related to divorce is a societal concern because children suffer potential short-term and long-term detrimental
economic, emotional, and educational effects during this difficult period of family transition. This is particularly true
when parents engage in lengthy legal conflict.
(b) Parents are more likely to consider the best interests of their children when determining parental arrangements
if courts provide families with information regarding the process by which courts make decisions on issues affecting
their children and suggestions as to how parents may ease the coming adjustments in family structure for their
children.
(c) It has been found to be beneficial to parents who are separating or divorcing to have available an educational
program that will provide general information regarding:
1. The issues and legal procedures for resolving time-sharing and child support disputes.
2. The emotional experiences and problems of divorcing adults.
3. The family problems and the emotional concerns and needs of the children.
4. The availability of community services and resources.
(d) Parents who are separating or divorcing are more likely to receive maximum benefit from a program if they
attend such program at the earliest stages of their dispute, before extensive litigation occurs and adversarial
positions are assumed or intensified.
(2) The Department of Children and Family Services shall approve a parenting course which shall be a course of a
minimum of 4 hours designed to educate, train, and assist divorcing parents in regard to the consequences of
divorce on parents and children.
(a) The parenting course referred to in this section shall be named the Parent Education and Family Stabilization
Course and may include, but need not be limited to, the following topics as they relate to court actions between
parents involving custody, care, time-sharing, and support of a child or children:
1. Legal aspects of deciding child-related issues between parents.
2. Emotional aspects of separation and divorce on adults.
3. Emotional aspects of separation and divorce on children.
4. Family relationships and family dynamics.
5. Financial responsibilities to a child or children.
6. Issues regarding spousal or child abuse and neglect.
7. Skill-based relationship education that may be generalized to parenting, workplace, school, neighborhood, and
civic relationships.
(b) Information regarding spousal and child abuse and neglect shall be included in every parent education and
family stabilization course. A list of local agencies that provide assistance with such issues shall also be provided.
(c) The parent education and family stabilization course shall be educational in nature and shall not be designed to
provide individual mental health therapy for parents or children, or individual legal advice to parents or children.
(d) Course providers shall not solicit participants from the sessions they conduct to become private clients or
patients.
(e) Course providers shall not give individual legal advice or mental health therapy.
(3) Each course provider offering a parenting course pursuant to this section must be approved by the Department
of Children and Family Services.
(a) The Department of Children and Family Services shall provide each judicial circuit with a list of approved course
providers and sites at which the parent education and family stabilization course may be completed. Each judicial
circuit must make information regarding all course providers approved for their circuit available to all parents.
(b) The Department of Children and Family Services shall include on the list of approved course providers and sites
for each circuit at least one site in that circuit where the parent education and family stabilization course may be
completed on a sliding fee scale, if available.
(c) The Department of Children and Family Services shall include on the list of approved course providers, without
limitation as to the area of the state for which the course is approved, a minimum of one statewide approved course
to be provided through the Internet and one statewide approved course to be provided through correspondence. The
purpose of the Internet and correspondence courses is to ensure that the parent education and stabilization course
is available in the home county of each state resident and to those out-of-state persons subject to this section.
(d) The Department of Children and Family Services may remove a provider who violates this section, or its
implementing rules, from the list of approved court providers.
(e) The Department of Children and Family Services shall adopt rules to administer subsection (2) and this
subsection.
(4) All parties to a dissolution of marriage proceeding with minor children or a paternity action that involves issues
of parental responsibility shall be required to complete the Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course prior to
the entry by the court of a final judgment. The court may excuse a party from attending the parenting course, or from
completing the course within the required time, for good cause.
(5) All parties required to complete a parenting course under this section shall begin the course as expeditiously as
possible. For dissolution of marriage actions, unless excused by the court pursuant to subsection (4), the petitioner
must complete the course within 45 days after the filing of the petition, and all other parties must complete the course
within 45 days after service of the petition. For paternity actions, unless excused by the court pursuant to subsection
(4), the petitioner must complete the course within 45 days after filing the petition, and any other party must complete
the course within 45 days after an acknowledgment of paternity by that party, an adjudication of paternity of that party,
or an order granting time-sharing to or support from that party. Each party to a dissolution or paternity action shall file
proof of compliance with this subsection with the court prior to the entry of the final judgment.
(6) All parties to a modification of a final judgment involving a parenting plan or a time-sharing schedule may be
required to complete a court-approved parenting course prior to the entry of an order modifying the final judgment.
(7) A reasonable fee may be charged to each parent attending the course.
(8) Information obtained or statements made by the parties at any educational session required under this statute
shall not be considered in the adjudication of a pending or subsequent action, nor shall any report resulting from
such educational session become part of the record of the case unless the parties have stipulated in writing to the
contrary.
(9) The court may hold any parent who fails to attend a required parenting course in contempt, or that parent may be
denied shared parental responsibility or time-sharing or otherwise sanctioned as the court deems appropriate.
(10) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the parties to a dissolution of marriage to attend a court-
approved parenting course together.
(11) The court may, without motion of either party, prohibit the parenting course from being taken together, if there is
a history of domestic violence between the parties.
___________________________________________________________
Please review the following Florida Statutes for some more information on Parenting Plans, Time-Sharing,
Dissolutions of Marriage, Alimony and Child Support in Florida:
Florida Statute 61.001 - Purpose of chapter.
Florida Statute 61.011 - Dissolution in chancery.
Florida Statute 61.021 - Residence requirements.
Florida Statute 61.031 - Dissolution of marriage to be a vinculo.
Florida Statute 61.043 - Commencement of a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or for alimony and child
support; dissolution questionnaire.
Florida Statute 61.044 - Certain existing defenses abolished.
Florida Statute 61.046 - Definitions.
Florida Statute 61.052 - Dissolution of marriage.
Florida Statute 61.061 Proceedings against nonresidents.
Florida Statute 61.071 - Alimony pendente lite; suit money.
Florida Statute 61.075 - Equitable distribution of marital assets and liabilities.
Florida Statute 61.076 - Distribution of retirement plans upon dissolution of marriage.
Florida Statute 61.077 - Determination of entitlement to setoffs or credits upon sale of marital home.
Florida Statute 61.079 - Premarital agreements.
Florida Statute 61.08 - Alimony.
Florida Statute 61.09 - Alimony and child support unconnected with dissolution.
Florida Statute 61.10 - Adjudication of obligation to support spouse or minor child unconnected with dissolution;
parenting plan.
Florida Statute 61.11 - Writs.
Florida Statute 61.12 - Attachment or garnishment of amounts due for alimony or child support.
Florida Statute 61.122 - Parenting plan recommendation; presumption of psychologist’s good faith; prerequisite to
parent’s filing suit; award of fees, costs, reimbursement.
Florida Statute 61.125 - Parenting coordination.
Florida Statute 61.13 - Support of children; parenting and time-sharing; powers of court.
Florida Statute 61.13001 - Parental relocation with a child.
Florida Statute 61.13002 - Temporary time-sharing modification and child support modification due to military
service.
Florida Statute 61.13003 - Court-ordered electronic communication between a parent and a child.
Florida Statute 61.13015 - Petition for suspension or denial of professional licenses and certificates.
Florida Statute 61.13016 - Suspension of driver’s licenses and motor vehicle registrations.
Florida Statute 61.1301 - Income deduction orders.
Florida Statute 61.1354 - Sharing of information between consumer reporting agencies and the IV-D agency.
Florida Statute 61.14 - Enforcement and modification of support, maintenance, or alimony agreements or orders.
Florida Statute 61.16 - Attorney’s fees, suit money, and costs.
Florida Statute 61.17 - Alimony and child support; additional method for enforcing orders and judgments; costs,
expenses.
Florida Statute 61.18 - Alimony and child support; default in undertaking of bond posted to ensure payment.
Florida Statute 61.181 - Depository for alimony transactions, support, maintenance, and support payments; fees.
Florida Statute 61.1811 - Clerk of the Court Child Support Enforcement Collection System Trust Fund.
Florida Statute - 61.1812 Child Support Incentive Trust Fund.
Florida Statute 61.1814 - Child Support Enforcement Application and Program Revenue Trust Fund.
Florida Statute 61.1816 - Child Support Clearing Trust Fund.
Florida Statute 61.1824 - State Disbursement Unit.
Florida Statute 61.1825 - State Case Registry.
Florida Statute 61.1826 - Procurement of services for State Disbursement Unit and the non-Title IV-D component of
the State Case Registry; contracts and cooperative agreements; penalties; withholding payment.
Florida Statute 61.1827 - Identifying information concerning applicants for and recipients of child support services.
Florida Statute 61.183 - Mediation of certain contested issues.
Florida Statute 61.19 - Entry of judgment of dissolution of marriage, delay period.
Florida Statute 61.191 - Application.
Florida Statute 61.20 - Social investigation and recommendations regarding a parenting plan.
Florida Statute 61.21 - Parenting course authorized; fees; required attendance authorized; contempt.
Florida Statute 61.29 - Child support guidelines; principles.
Florida Statute 61.30 - Child support guidelines; retroactive child support.
Florida Statute 61.401 - Appointment of guardian ad litem.
Florida Statue 61.402 - Qualifications of guardians ad litem.
Florida Statute 61.403 - Guardians ad litem; powers and authority.
Florida Statute 61.404 - Guardians ad litem; confidentiality.
Florida Statute 61.405 - Guardians ad litem; immunity.
Florida Statue 61.45 - Court-ordered parenting plan; risk of violation; bond.
Additional Family Law Statutes
NOTE: Florida Statutes are modified and updated from time to time by the Florida Legislature and Governor and
the latest version of the Florida Statute may not be posted on this website. In addition, you should consult with an
experienced Florida Divorce and Family Law Attorney to understand how the Florida Statutes apply and interact with
Florida case law, Florida Family law Rules of Procedure and other applicable laws and Florida Statutes.
For more information, Call the Wilson Law Firm Today at (407) 648-5255 to speak with an experienced Orlando
Florida divorce attorney about your situation or to schedule a Free Initial Consultation. The Wilson Law Firm
represents individuals in divorce and family law cases in the Central Florida area, including the cities of Altamonte
Springs, Apopka, Casselberry, Clermont, Kissimmee, Lake Mary, Longwood, Maitland, Mount Dora, Ocoee, Orlando,
Oviedo, Saint Cloud, Sanford, Windermere, Winter Garden, Winter Park and Winter Springs, as well as Lake County,
Orange County, Osceola County, Seminole County, and Volusia County, Florida.
(1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS; PURPOSE. It is the finding of the Legislature that:
(a) A large number of children experience the separation or divorce of their parents each year. Parental conflict
related to divorce is a societal concern because children suffer potential short-term and long-term detrimental
economic, emotional, and educational effects during this difficult period of family transition. This is particularly true
when parents engage in lengthy legal conflict.
(b) Parents are more likely to consider the best interests of their children when determining parental arrangements
if courts provide families with information regarding the process by which courts make decisions on issues affecting
their children and suggestions as to how parents may ease the coming adjustments in family structure for their
children.
(c) It has been found to be beneficial to parents who are separating or divorcing to have available an educational
program that will provide general information regarding:
1. The issues and legal procedures for resolving time-sharing and child support disputes.
2. The emotional experiences and problems of divorcing adults.
3. The family problems and the emotional concerns and needs of the children.
4. The availability of community services and resources.
(d) Parents who are separating or divorcing are more likely to receive maximum benefit from a program if they
attend such program at the earliest stages of their dispute, before extensive litigation occurs and adversarial
positions are assumed or intensified.
(2) The Department of Children and Family Services shall approve a parenting course which shall be a course of a
minimum of 4 hours designed to educate, train, and assist divorcing parents in regard to the consequences of
divorce on parents and children.
(a) The parenting course referred to in this section shall be named the Parent Education and Family Stabilization
Course and may include, but need not be limited to, the following topics as they relate to court actions between
parents involving custody, care, time-sharing, and support of a child or children:
1. Legal aspects of deciding child-related issues between parents.
2. Emotional aspects of separation and divorce on adults.
3. Emotional aspects of separation and divorce on children.
4. Family relationships and family dynamics.
5. Financial responsibilities to a child or children.
6. Issues regarding spousal or child abuse and neglect.
7. Skill-based relationship education that may be generalized to parenting, workplace, school, neighborhood, and
civic relationships.
(b) Information regarding spousal and child abuse and neglect shall be included in every parent education and
family stabilization course. A list of local agencies that provide assistance with such issues shall also be provided.
(c) The parent education and family stabilization course shall be educational in nature and shall not be designed to
provide individual mental health therapy for parents or children, or individual legal advice to parents or children.
(d) Course providers shall not solicit participants from the sessions they conduct to become private clients or
patients.
(e) Course providers shall not give individual legal advice or mental health therapy.
(3) Each course provider offering a parenting course pursuant to this section must be approved by the Department
of Children and Family Services.
(a) The Department of Children and Family Services shall provide each judicial circuit with a list of approved course
providers and sites at which the parent education and family stabilization course may be completed. Each judicial
circuit must make information regarding all course providers approved for their circuit available to all parents.
(b) The Department of Children and Family Services shall include on the list of approved course providers and sites
for each circuit at least one site in that circuit where the parent education and family stabilization course may be
completed on a sliding fee scale, if available.
(c) The Department of Children and Family Services shall include on the list of approved course providers, without
limitation as to the area of the state for which the course is approved, a minimum of one statewide approved course
to be provided through the Internet and one statewide approved course to be provided through correspondence. The
purpose of the Internet and correspondence courses is to ensure that the parent education and stabilization course
is available in the home county of each state resident and to those out-of-state persons subject to this section.
(d) The Department of Children and Family Services may remove a provider who violates this section, or its
implementing rules, from the list of approved court providers.
(e) The Department of Children and Family Services shall adopt rules to administer subsection (2) and this
subsection.
(4) All parties to a dissolution of marriage proceeding with minor children or a paternity action that involves issues
of parental responsibility shall be required to complete the Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course prior to
the entry by the court of a final judgment. The court may excuse a party from attending the parenting course, or from
completing the course within the required time, for good cause.
(5) All parties required to complete a parenting course under this section shall begin the course as expeditiously as
possible. For dissolution of marriage actions, unless excused by the court pursuant to subsection (4), the petitioner
must complete the course within 45 days after the filing of the petition, and all other parties must complete the course
within 45 days after service of the petition. For paternity actions, unless excused by the court pursuant to subsection
(4), the petitioner must complete the course within 45 days after filing the petition, and any other party must complete
the course within 45 days after an acknowledgment of paternity by that party, an adjudication of paternity of that party,
or an order granting time-sharing to or support from that party. Each party to a dissolution or paternity action shall file
proof of compliance with this subsection with the court prior to the entry of the final judgment.
(6) All parties to a modification of a final judgment involving a parenting plan or a time-sharing schedule may be
required to complete a court-approved parenting course prior to the entry of an order modifying the final judgment.
(7) A reasonable fee may be charged to each parent attending the course.
(8) Information obtained or statements made by the parties at any educational session required under this statute
shall not be considered in the adjudication of a pending or subsequent action, nor shall any report resulting from
such educational session become part of the record of the case unless the parties have stipulated in writing to the
contrary.
(9) The court may hold any parent who fails to attend a required parenting course in contempt, or that parent may be
denied shared parental responsibility or time-sharing or otherwise sanctioned as the court deems appropriate.
(10) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require the parties to a dissolution of marriage to attend a court-
approved parenting course together.
(11) The court may, without motion of either party, prohibit the parenting course from being taken together, if there is
a history of domestic violence between the parties.
___________________________________________________________
Please review the following Florida Statutes for some more information on Parenting Plans, Time-Sharing,
Dissolutions of Marriage, Alimony and Child Support in Florida:
Florida Statute 61.001 - Purpose of chapter.
Florida Statute 61.011 - Dissolution in chancery.
Florida Statute 61.021 - Residence requirements.
Florida Statute 61.031 - Dissolution of marriage to be a vinculo.
Florida Statute 61.043 - Commencement of a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or for alimony and child
support; dissolution questionnaire.
Florida Statute 61.044 - Certain existing defenses abolished.
Florida Statute 61.046 - Definitions.
Florida Statute 61.052 - Dissolution of marriage.
Florida Statute 61.061 Proceedings against nonresidents.
Florida Statute 61.071 - Alimony pendente lite; suit money.
Florida Statute 61.075 - Equitable distribution of marital assets and liabilities.
Florida Statute 61.076 - Distribution of retirement plans upon dissolution of marriage.
Florida Statute 61.077 - Determination of entitlement to setoffs or credits upon sale of marital home.
Florida Statute 61.079 - Premarital agreements.
Florida Statute 61.08 - Alimony.
Florida Statute 61.09 - Alimony and child support unconnected with dissolution.
Florida Statute 61.10 - Adjudication of obligation to support spouse or minor child unconnected with dissolution;
parenting plan.
Florida Statute 61.11 - Writs.
Florida Statute 61.12 - Attachment or garnishment of amounts due for alimony or child support.
Florida Statute 61.122 - Parenting plan recommendation; presumption of psychologist’s good faith; prerequisite to
parent’s filing suit; award of fees, costs, reimbursement.
Florida Statute 61.125 - Parenting coordination.
Florida Statute 61.13 - Support of children; parenting and time-sharing; powers of court.
Florida Statute 61.13001 - Parental relocation with a child.
Florida Statute 61.13002 - Temporary time-sharing modification and child support modification due to military
service.
Florida Statute 61.13003 - Court-ordered electronic communication between a parent and a child.
Florida Statute 61.13015 - Petition for suspension or denial of professional licenses and certificates.
Florida Statute 61.13016 - Suspension of driver’s licenses and motor vehicle registrations.
Florida Statute 61.1301 - Income deduction orders.
Florida Statute 61.1354 - Sharing of information between consumer reporting agencies and the IV-D agency.
Florida Statute 61.14 - Enforcement and modification of support, maintenance, or alimony agreements or orders.
Florida Statute 61.16 - Attorney’s fees, suit money, and costs.
Florida Statute 61.17 - Alimony and child support; additional method for enforcing orders and judgments; costs,
expenses.
Florida Statute 61.18 - Alimony and child support; default in undertaking of bond posted to ensure payment.
Florida Statute 61.181 - Depository for alimony transactions, support, maintenance, and support payments; fees.
Florida Statute 61.1811 - Clerk of the Court Child Support Enforcement Collection System Trust Fund.
Florida Statute - 61.1812 Child Support Incentive Trust Fund.
Florida Statute 61.1814 - Child Support Enforcement Application and Program Revenue Trust Fund.
Florida Statute 61.1816 - Child Support Clearing Trust Fund.
Florida Statute 61.1824 - State Disbursement Unit.
Florida Statute 61.1825 - State Case Registry.
Florida Statute 61.1826 - Procurement of services for State Disbursement Unit and the non-Title IV-D component of
the State Case Registry; contracts and cooperative agreements; penalties; withholding payment.
Florida Statute 61.1827 - Identifying information concerning applicants for and recipients of child support services.
Florida Statute 61.183 - Mediation of certain contested issues.
Florida Statute 61.19 - Entry of judgment of dissolution of marriage, delay period.
Florida Statute 61.191 - Application.
Florida Statute 61.20 - Social investigation and recommendations regarding a parenting plan.
Florida Statute 61.21 - Parenting course authorized; fees; required attendance authorized; contempt.
Florida Statute 61.29 - Child support guidelines; principles.
Florida Statute 61.30 - Child support guidelines; retroactive child support.
Florida Statute 61.401 - Appointment of guardian ad litem.
Florida Statue 61.402 - Qualifications of guardians ad litem.
Florida Statute 61.403 - Guardians ad litem; powers and authority.
Florida Statute 61.404 - Guardians ad litem; confidentiality.
Florida Statute 61.405 - Guardians ad litem; immunity.
Florida Statue 61.45 - Court-ordered parenting plan; risk of violation; bond.
Additional Family Law Statutes
NOTE: Florida Statutes are modified and updated from time to time by the Florida Legislature and Governor and
the latest version of the Florida Statute may not be posted on this website. In addition, you should consult with an
experienced Florida Divorce and Family Law Attorney to understand how the Florida Statutes apply and interact with
Florida case law, Florida Family law Rules of Procedure and other applicable laws and Florida Statutes.
For more information, Call the Wilson Law Firm Today at (407) 648-5255 to speak with an experienced Orlando
Florida divorce attorney about your situation or to schedule a Free Initial Consultation. The Wilson Law Firm
represents individuals in divorce and family law cases in the Central Florida area, including the cities of Altamonte
Springs, Apopka, Casselberry, Clermont, Kissimmee, Lake Mary, Longwood, Maitland, Mount Dora, Ocoee, Orlando,
Oviedo, Saint Cloud, Sanford, Windermere, Winter Garden, Winter Park and Winter Springs, as well as Lake County,
Orange County, Osceola County, Seminole County, and Volusia County, Florida.
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The Law Firm handles Divorce and