Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte
For parenting classes Fort Lauderdale parents need in a divorce, the Broward County Clerk of Courts gives three rules: each parent attends the course separately, each pays the fee, and each files a Certificate of Attendance in the court file right away. The course itself is the statewide Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course. The Seventeenth Judicial Circuit adds that it must be done before the final judgment.
Key Facts
- Separate attendance: the Clerk says the parties “shall separately attend” the course. See attending separately.
- Fees: the Clerk says the parties pay for the course. See who pays.
- Filing: each party files a Certificate of Attendance “immediately.” See filing the certificate.
- Deadline: state law gives 45 days after filing or service. See your timeline.
- Approval: DCF, not the Clerk, approves providers. See finding a provider.
What the Broward Clerk Says
The Clerk’s Family division page explains each type of family case. For a “Dissolution of Marriage with Dependent or Minor Children,” it lists the parenting course as a step. The page’s wording is short and firm.
| Clerk’s words | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| “the parties shall separately attend a Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course” | Each spouse takes the course on his or her own |
| “The parties shall be responsible for the fees for the course” | Each spouse pays for his or her own seat |
| “Each party is responsible for immediately filing his/her Certificate of Attendance in the court file” | Each spouse files proof without waiting |
The Clerk’s glossary also defines the term. A “Parenting Course” is “A class that teaches parents how to help their child(ren) cope with divorce and other family issues.”
Who This Case Type Covers
The Clerk uses this case type for spouses who have a dependent or minor child together. It also covers a marriage where either spouse is pregnant. At least one spouse must have lived in Florida for the past six months.
What the Seventeenth Circuit FAQ Adds
The circuit’s family court FAQ asks, “Why am I being required to take a parenting class?” Its answer quotes Florida law.
It says section 61.21(4) requires all parties to a divorce with children, or a paternity action that involves parental responsibility, “to complete a parenting course before a Final Judgment is entered.” That is the only FAQ answer on the course. It sets no local deadline.
Paternity Cases in Broward
The FAQ’s mention of paternity matters. In a paternity case, the parent who files still has 45 days after filing. The other parent’s 45 days start after an acknowledgment of paternity, an adjudication of paternity, or an order granting time-sharing or support.
The Clerk’s three duties above appear under the divorce case type. For a paternity case, ask the Clerk whether the same filing steps apply.
Parenting Classes Fort Lauderdale Parents Take Alone
The Clerk’s page uses the word “separately.” State law points the same way. Section 61.21 says the parties are not required to attend the course together.
The law also protects parents in some cases. If there is a history of domestic violence, the court may bar the parents from taking the course together. It can do this even if neither parent asks.
What you say in the course stays out of the case. Section 61.21(8) says statements made there are not used in deciding the case, unless both parties agree in writing.
Who Pays for the Course
The Clerk puts the cost on the parties. State law allows providers to charge “a reasonable fee” to each parent. It sets no state price.
There is help for parents who cannot pay. DCF must list at least one site in each circuit where the course is offered on a sliding fee scale, if one is available.
Under DCF rule 65C-32.005, each provider tells DCF what it charges. It also describes any options for indigent parents, such as scholarships, accepting court waivers, or sliding fees. DCF’s rule 65C-32.001 says “indigent” means a civil indigent status found by the clerk of the circuit court.
Your Broward Timeline
The Clerk does not set a day count for the course. The 45-day limits come from section 61.21(5):
- The spouse who files: 45 days after the petition is filed.
- The spouse who is served: 45 days after service of the petition.
Here is how the day count can work in one sample case:
| Sample event | Date | Day 45 for that spouse |
|---|---|---|
| Petition filed | August 1 | September 15 (filing spouse) |
| Petition served | August 20 | October 4 (served spouse) |
Your own dates will differ. Count from your own filing or service date.
The law also says to begin “as expeditiously as possible.” Then the Clerk’s word “immediately” applies to the filing step. Finishing early leaves time for that filing step.
Filing the Certificate of Attendance
Broward’s Clerk calls the proof a “Certificate of Attendance.” DCF’s rule calls it a certificate of completion. Both names point to the paper you get after you finish.
Under DCF rule 65C-32.004, you get it after the full course and a score of at least 70 percent on the end-of-course test. It must show:
- the course name
- the provider’s name and contact information
- the curriculum’s unique name, if any
- your start date and your finish date
Providers must be able to confirm a certificate is real. They keep copies for five years. Keep your own copy as well, in case you need it later.
The Clerk’s page does not give e-filing steps for the certificate. Follow the Clerk’s current filing instructions, or ask the Clerk how to file in your case. Our guide on how to submit your certificate covers the statewide side.
How Long the Course Runs
DCF’s rule 65C-32.002 sets the length. Every course is at least four hours, and that time includes instruction, exercises and the end-of-course test. An online course must have a lock that stops anyone from finishing in under four hours.
The same rule covers a few more points:
- Every course must have a way to check who is taking it.
- Online and mail students must be able to reach the instructor.
- Questions about the content must be answered within one business day.
What the course teaches is set by rule 65C-32.003. See what the 4-hour class includes for the full topic list.
Finding an Approved Provider
The Clerk does not pick providers. Its page says approved providers are listed on the Florida Department of Children and Families website, as section 61.21 requires. It links to DCF’s course page.
DCF’s provider list shows each course’s provider, languages, city, delivery method and indigent status. It also shows an expiration date. DCF approvals last three years, so check that date before you pay.
Online Courses and Broward
Neither the Clerk’s page nor the circuit FAQ says whether an online course counts. Florida law does require DCF to approve at least one statewide internet course. Still, not every court accepts online courses; the Fourth Circuit in Jacksonville requires an in-person class.
So ask the Clerk or the court before you pick an online course for a Broward case.
Questions to Ask the Clerk
Questions you can bring to the Clerk’s office include:
- How do I file my Certificate of Attendance in this case?
- Does the court accept an online course?
- Do the same steps apply in a paternity case?
- How do I ask for civil indigent status?
Special Needs and Extra Courses
If your children have special needs or emotional concerns, state law says you must select a course built for them. DCF keeps a separate list of those courses. The court may also order extra courses on children with special needs.
The Course and the Rest of Your Case
The course is one step in a Broward divorce, not the whole case. A parenting plan is a separate document under Florida law. It sets out how parents share decisions and includes the time-sharing schedule.
The course does teach ideas for building a parenting plan. But finishing the course does not create or file a plan. See parenting plan vs the parent course.
If your case changes an existing parenting plan or time-sharing schedule, state law says the court may require the course. In that kind of case, the judge decides.
If the Course Is Not Done
The circuit FAQ ties the course to the final judgment. State law adds penalties. Under section 61.21(9), a parent who does not attend can be held in contempt, denied shared parental responsibility or time-sharing, or sanctioned in another way.
Only the court can excuse a parent from the course or from the deadline. It needs good cause to do so.
What We Found on the Official Pages
On the Broward pages we checked on October 26, 2026, the Clerk’s Family page gave the three course duties quoted above. It linked to DCF for the provider list. It also cited Administrative Order AO-2019-15-UFC, which deals with status quo temporary orders, not the course.
The Seventeenth Circuit FAQ had one answer on the course, quoting section 61.21(4). Neither page set a day count of its own or said how to file the certificate.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
These come from the Clerk’s page, the circuit FAQ and section 61.21:
- Planning to attend as a couple. The Clerk says to attend separately.
- Filing late. The Clerk says to file “immediately.”
- Filing only one certificate. Each party files his or her own.
- Skipping the expiration date. DCF approvals last three years.
- Assuming online is fine. Neither Broward page says so; ask first.
How Requirements Can Vary
Section 61.21 of the Florida Statutes sets the course requirement for the whole state, and DCF approves the courses. Each judicial circuit can still add its own steps, such as how to file the certificate or which class formats it accepts. The Fourth Circuit (Duval, Clay and Nassau counties), for example, requires an in-person class.
Laws, court orders and local rules can change. Check your court’s instructions, your county clerk’s website and DCF’s provider list before you enroll or file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do both parents take the class in a Broward divorce?
Yes. The Clerk says “the parties shall separately attend” the course. Each spouse takes it on his or her own.
What is a Certificate of Attendance?
It is the Broward Clerk’s name for the proof you get after you finish the course. DCF’s rule calls it a certificate of completion.
When do I file it?
The Clerk says “immediately.” State law says proof must be filed before the final judgment.
How long do I have to finish?
The spouse who files has 45 days after filing. The other spouse has 45 days after service.
Does the course apply if a spouse is pregnant?
The Clerk’s page lists a pregnancy under the case type “Dissolution of Marriage with Dependent or Minor Children.” That case type includes the parenting course step. Ask the Clerk or the court how it applies to your case.
Is what I say in class used against me?
No, unless both parties agree in writing. Section 61.21(8) keeps statements made in the course out of the case.
Who approves the classes for Fort Lauderdale parents?
The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF). The Clerk’s page links to DCF’s list rather than naming providers.
Can I take the course online for a Broward case?
The Broward pages we read do not say. Ask the Clerk or the court before you choose an online course.
Conclusion
Broward parents should take the course on their own, pay their own fee, and file the Certificate of Attendance as soon as they finish. If you are thinking about DivorceParentingClass.net’s online Florida parent education course, first confirm that the Broward court accepts an online course for your case. Keep a copy of your certificate after you file it.
Related Articles
- Parenting Classes Florida by County: Court Certificate Guide
- Parenting Classes Miami: Miami-Dade Divorce Course Guide
- Parenting Classes West Palm Beach: Palm Beach County Guide
- How to Submit Your Parenting Class Certificate of Completion
Sources
- Broward County Clerk of Courts — Family
- Seventeenth Judicial Circuit — Family Court FAQs
- Florida Statutes § 61.21 — Parenting course
- Florida Statutes § 61.046 — Definitions
- Fla. Admin. Code R. 65C-32.001 — Definitions
- Fla. Admin. Code R. 65C-32.002 — Course length and delivery
- Fla. Admin. Code R. 65C-32.003 — Required course content
- Fla. Admin. Code R. 65C-32.004 — Test and certificate
- Fla. Admin. Code R. 65C-32.005 — Provider approval
- Florida DCF — Approved course provider list
- Florida DCF — Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course
- Florida DCF — Courses for children with special needs or emotional concerns
Billy Forte is the owner of DivorceParentingClass.net.
This article is general information, not legal advice. Court rules, local practice, and case facts can differ by county, judge, and case type in Florida. Use official court and state sources, and consult a qualified Florida family law attorney for legal guidance specific to your case.