The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to facilitate and encourage a close and
continuing parent-child relationship, to honor the time-sharing schedule, and to be reasonable
when changes are required;
The anticipated division of parental responsibilities after the litigation, including the extent to
which parental responsibilities will be delegated to third parties;
The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to determine, consider, and act upon
the needs of the child(ren) as opposed to the needs or desires of the parent;
The length of time the child(ren) has lived in a stable, satisfactory environment and the desirability
of maintaining continuity;
The geographic viability of the parenting plan, with special attention paid to the needs of school-
age children and the amount of time to be spent traveling to effectuate the parenting plan. This
factor does not create a presumption for or against relocation of either parent with a child(ren);
The moral fitness of the parents;
The mental and physical health of the parents;
The home, school, and community record of the child(ren);
The reasonable preference of the child(ren), if the court deems the child(ren) to be of sufficient
intelligence, understanding, and experience to express a preference;
The demonstrated knowledge, capacity, and disposition of each parent to be informed of the
circumstances of the minor child(ren), including, but not limited to, the child(ren)’s friends,
teachers, medical care providers, daily activities, and favorite things;
The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to provide a consistent routine for the
child(ren), such as discipline, and daily schedules for homework, meals, and bedtime;
The demonstrated capacity of each parent to communicate with and keep the other parent
informed of issues and activities regarding the minor child(ren), and the willingness of each parent
to adopt a unified front on all major issues when dealing with the child(ren);
Evidence of domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, child abandonment, or child neglect,
regardless of whether a prior or pending action relating to those issues has been brought. If the
court accepts evidence of prior or pending actions regarding domestic violence, sexual violence,
child abuse, child abandonment, or child neglect, the court must specifically acknowledge in
writing that such evidence was considered when evaluating the best interests of the child(ren);
Evidence that either parent has knowingly provided false information to the court regarding any
prior or pending action regarding domestic violence, sexual violence, child abuse, child
abandonment, or child neglect;
The particular parenting tasks customarily performed by each parent and the division or parental
responsibilities before the institution of litigation and during the pending litigation, including the
extent to which parenting responsibilities were undertaken by third parties;
The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to participate and be involved in the
child(ren)’s school and extracurricular activities-
The demonstrated capacity and disposition of each parent to maintain an environment for the
child(ren) which is free from substance abuse;
The capacity and disposition of each parent to protect the child(ren) from the ongoing litigation
as demonstrated by not discussing the litigation with the child(ren), not sharing documents or
Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.995(a), Parenting Plan (02/18)