Florida Divorce Checklist for Parents With Minor Children

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

A Florida divorce checklist for parents with minor children should track ten items, from filing or service through the parenting plan and proof of the parent course. Each item below comes from Florida law, a DCF rule or an official court page. Each one also has a clear point where you can mark it done.

Key Facts

Start point: your course clock starts when you file or when you are served. See item 1.
Pick the right course: it must be on DCF’s approved list, or its special-needs list if needed. See item 2.
Format: check what your court accepts before you pay. See item 4.
Proof: the certificate goes into the court file before the final judgment. See item 8.
The plan: prepare a parenting plan with a time-sharing schedule. See item 9.

How to Use This Florida Divorce Checklist

Work through the items in order. Write the date next to each one when it is done. The tracker table near the end gives a one-line view of every item.

Both parents need their own copy of this list. Each parent takes the course, gets a certificate and has a 45-day date that may differ from the other parent’s. Tracking them apart avoids mix-ups.

This list covers the parent course and the parenting plan. It does not cover every paper in a divorce. Your court, the clerk or a Florida family law attorney can tell you what else your case needs.

Who This Checklist Is For

The course part of this list applies to two kinds of cases under section 61.21:

A divorce with minor children. The law covers “all parties” to it.
A paternity case involving parental responsibility. The other party’s clock starts at different events in these cases.

In a case to change a parenting plan or time-sharing schedule, the court may require the course. A divorce with no minor children is not covered by this rule.

The Checklist

Item 1: File or Be Served

Your case starts one of two ways. Either you file the petition, or the other parent files and you are served.

Write down that date. Under section 61.21(5), it starts your 45 days. The petitioner counts from filing, and the other party counts from service.

Done when: you have the date written down.

Item 2: Choose a DCF-Approved Course

Only a course approved by the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) meets the law. Look it up on DCF’s provider list. The list shows the course name, provider, languages, phone, website, city, indigent status, delivery method and an expiration date.

Approval is “valid for three (3) years” under DCF rule 65C-32.005. So check that the expiration date has not passed.

Done when: the course and provider match a current entry on DCF’s list.

Item 3: Check for Special Needs

If your children have special needs or emotional concerns, the law changes your choice. Section 61.21(4)(a) says the parties must select a course made for that.

DCF posts a separate list for those courses. The court may also order extra classes on special needs.

Done when: you have decided which list applies to your family.

Item 4: Confirm the Format

Florida law requires DCF to approve at least one statewide internet course and one correspondence course. That does not mean every court accepts them.

The Fourth Circuit (Duval, Clay and Nassau) is the clear example. The circuit’s standing family law order calls for “a similar qualified inperson program.” Its FAQ says, “YOU MUST REGISTER FOR ONE OF THE FOLLOWING IN-CLASS PARENTING CLASSES.” Check your own court’s instructions first.

The same FAQ answer also points parents to DCF’s list of local and online providers. So ask the circuit’s Family Court Services which class applies to your case.

Done when: you know whether your court takes online, correspondence or in-person classes.

Item 5: Finish Within 45 Days

The course runs at least 4 hours under DCF rule 65C-32.002. That time includes instruction, exercises and the end-of-course test. Online courses must stop anyone from finishing in under 4 hours.

Finish within 45 days of your start date from item 1. Some circuits set earlier points, as item 10 shows.

Two more rules apply to every course. Each course must verify the identity of the people taking it. Online and correspondence instructors must answer content questions within one business day.

You and the other parent do not need to take it together. If there is a history of domestic violence, the court can bar you from taking it together. What either of you says in a session is not used in the case unless the parties agree in writing.

Done when: you have completed every part of the course.

Item 6: Pass the End-of-Course Test

Under DCF rule 65C-32.004, you need at least 70 percent. If you score lower, you review the missed material and try again. Attempts are unlimited, and providers may not charge more for the extra time.

In an online course, missed questions must point you to the section to review. The certificate comes only after a passing score.

Done when: you have a passing score.

Item 7: Get and Check the Certificate

The provider gives a certificate to each parent who finishes and passes. Rule 65C-32.004 says it must show:

the course name
the provider’s name and contact information
the curriculum name, if any
the dates you began and finished

Check that each required item is there and correct. Then save a copy for your records.

Done when: you hold a certificate with all the required items.

Item 8: File Proof Before the Final Judgment

Getting the certificate is not the same as filing it. Section 61.21(5) says each party “shall file proof of compliance” with the court before the final judgment. Each parent files their own.

Follow your clerk’s steps for filing. For local wording, see the deadlines and certificate guide.

Done when: your proof is in the court file.

Item 9: Prepare the Parenting Plan

The course does not create your plan. Under section 61.13, a plan the court approves must at least cover daily tasks, a time-sharing schedule, health care, school and how parents talk with the child. It must also name exchange spots unless both parents agree otherwise in writing.

The course does give ideas for building a plan, but the plan is a separate paper. See the parenting plan vs the parent course.

Done when: your plan, with its time-sharing schedule, is ready to submit as your court directs.

Item 10: Check Local Requirements

Statewide rules are the floor. Some circuits add more:

Miami-Dade. The court’s FAQ says a child aged 6 to 17 must attend a 3½-hour class for children of divorcing parents.
Seventh Circuit. Its order asks parties to enroll within 20 days. They must finish before court-ordered mediation or trial, whichever comes first.
Fourth Circuit. An in-person class from its named list.

Done when: you have read your circuit’s family court page or order.

The ten-item Florida divorce checklist for parents, from filing or service to the parenting plan and local rules — Florida Divorce Checklist for Parents With Minor Children 3

Tracker Table

Item	Done when	Rule or source
1. File or be served	Start date written down	Section 61.21(5)
2. DCF-approved course	Course is on DCF’s list, not expired	Section 61.21(3); rule 65C-32.005
3. Special needs check	You know which list applies	Section 61.21(4)(a)
4. Format check	Court’s accepted format known	Local court instructions
5. Finish in 45 days	All course parts complete	Section 61.21(5); rule 65C-32.002
6. Pass the test	Score of 70 percent or more	Rule 65C-32.004
7. Certificate	Required items present	Rule 65C-32.004
8. File proof	Proof in the court file	Section 61.21(5)
9. Parenting plan	Plan and schedule ready	Section 61.13
10. Local rules	Circuit order read	Circuit pages

What to Keep in Your Records

Good records make each step easy to prove. Keep these together:

Your start date. The filing date, or the date you were served.
The course details. Course name, provider and the DCF list entry you checked.
Your certificate. A copy of what the provider issued.
Filing proof. Whatever your clerk gives you to show the certificate was filed.
Plan drafts. Each version of the parenting plan and schedule.

If you lose the certificate, start with the provider. Rule 65C-32.004 says providers keep copies of all certificates for five years.

Costs to Plan For

Florida sets no state price for the course. Section 61.21(7) allows “a reasonable fee” for each parent. Some points can lower the cost or keep it steady:

Sliding fee sites. DCF must list at least one in each circuit, if available.
Indigent status. DCF’s list has a column for it. Providers report their options, such as scholarships or court fee waivers.
No retake charge. Providers may not charge more for the extra time needed to pass.

If You Fall Behind

Only the court can excuse a parent from the course, or from finishing on time, for good cause. Parents cannot waive it by agreeing.

Falling behind has real risks. Section 61.21(9) lets the court hold a parent in contempt, deny shared parental responsibility or time-sharing, or order other sanctions. If you are late, talk to the court or a family law attorney about next steps.

Common Mistakes

Each one is drawn from the statute, a DCF rule or a court page:

Picking a course that is not on DCF’s list. Only DCF-approved courses meet section 61.21.
Missing an expired approval. DCF approvals last three years.
Skipping the special-needs check. The law requires a course made for those needs.
Paying before checking the format. One circuit requires in-person classes.
Treating the certificate as filed. Proof must reach the court file before the judgment.
Forgetting the children’s class. Miami-Dade requires one for ages 6 to 17.

What We Found on the Official Pages

On the official pages we checked on October 26, 2026, DCF’s provider list named its columns, including “Delivery Method” and “Exp. Date.” DCF’s special-needs page listed two approved courses.

The Fourth Circuit’s FAQ still listed three in-class programs. The Miami-Dade FAQ still described the children’s class for ages 6 to 17.

Records Florida divorcing parents should keep while working through the checklist — Florida Divorce Checklist for Parents With Minor Children 4

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

What is the first item on the checklist?

Your start date. Filing starts the petitioner’s 45 days, and service starts the other parent’s 45 days.

Can I skip the course if we agree on everything?

No. Section 61.21 covers all parties to a divorce with minor children. Only the court can excuse a party, for good cause.

How do I know a course is approved?

Look it up on DCF’s provider list and check its expiration date. Approved courses must also include DCF’s approval notice in their materials.

Is the certificate the last step?

No. You must file proof with the court before the final judgment. You also still need the parenting plan.

Does every county have the same checklist?

No. Statewide rules apply everywhere, but some circuits add steps, such as Miami-Dade’s children’s class.

Who can tell me what else my divorce needs?

Your court, the clerk’s office or a Florida family law attorney. This checklist covers only the course and the plan.

Do we file one certificate for both parents?

No. The provider gives a certificate to each parent who finishes and passes, and section 61.21(5) says each party files proof. Plan on two separate filings.

Conclusion

A Florida divorce checklist for parents keeps the course, the certificate and the parenting plan on track. Work the ten items in order and keep your records together. If you choose DivorceParentingClass.net’s online Florida parent education course for item 2, check item 4 first and confirm that your court accepts an online course.

Sources

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.