Administration. If you elect to participate in electronic service, which means serving or receiving
pleadings by electronic mail (e-mail), or through the Florida Courts E-Filing Portal, you must review
Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.516. You may find this rule at through the link
to the Rules of Judicial Administration provided under either Family Law Forms: Getting Started, or
Rules of Court in the A-Z Topical Index.
SELF-REPRESENTED LITIGANTS MAY SERVE DOCUMENTS BY E-MAIL; HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT
REQUIRED TO DO SO. If a self-represented litigant elects to serve and receive documents by e-mail, the
procedures must always be followed once the initial election is made.
To serve and receive documents by e-mail, you must designate your e-mail addresses by using the
Designation of Current Mailing and E-mail Address, Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form
12.915, and you must provide your e-mail address on each form on which your signature appears.
Please CAREFULLY read the rules and instructions for: Certificate of Service (General), Florida Supreme
Court Approved Family Law Form 12.914; Designation of Current Mailing and E-mail Address, Florida
Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.915; and Florida Rule of Judicial Administration 2.516.
Where can I look for more information?
Before proceeding, you should read “General Information for Self-Represented Litigants” found at the
beginning of these forms. The words that are in “bold underline” in these instructions are defined
there. For further information, see chapter 61, Florida Statutes, and the instructions for the petition
and/or answer that were filed in this case.
Special notes...
At a minimum, the Parenting Plan must describe in adequate detail:
How the parties will share and be responsible for the daily tasks associated with the upbringing of
the child(ren),
The time-sharing schedule arrangements that specify the time that the minor child(ren) will
spend with each parent,
A designation of who will be responsible for any and all forms of health care, school-related
matters, including the address to be used for school-boundary determination and registration,
other activities, and
The methods and technologies that the parents will use to communicate with the child(ren).
The best interests of the child(ren) is the primary consideration in the Parenting Plan. In creating the
Parenting Plan, all circumstances between the parents, including their historic relationship, domestic
violence, and other factors must be taken into consideration. Determination of the best interests of the
child(ren) shall be made by evaluating all of the factors affecting the welfare and interest of the
particular minor child(ren) and the circumstances of that family, as listed in section 61.13(3), Florida
Statutes, including, but not limited to:
Instructions for Florida Supreme Court Approved Family Law Form 12.995(a), Parenting Plan (11/15)