Divorce in Florida With Children: Parent Course Checklist

Updated October 2026 · Reviewed by Billy Forte

If you are going through a divorce in Florida with children, the parent course has its own checklist: choose a DCF-approved course, check your court’s local rules, finish within 45 days of filing or service, pass the test, and file the certificate before the final judgment. Each parent works through the list separately. When you are done, keep a copy of your certificate.

Key Facts

Course: pick one from DCF’s list, or its special-needs list if your child needs it. See choosing a course.
Local rules: some courts require in-person classes or a class for children. See local rules.
Deadline: 45 days after filing for the petitioner, 45 days after service for the other parent. See your date.
Test: 70 percent to pass, with unlimited attempts. See the test.
Proof: file the certificate before the final judgment, then keep a copy. See filing.

The Divorce in Florida With Children Course Checklist

This checklist covers only the parent course. It follows section 61.21, Florida Statutes and the DCF rules for the course. You can print it or copy it into your notes.

Step	Task	Rule behind it
1	Confirm the course applies to your case	Section 61.21(4)(a)
2	Decide if you need a special-needs course	Section 61.21(4)(a)
3	Read your court’s local rules on format and extras	Circuit orders and court pages
4	Choose a course on DCF’s list	Section 61.21(2) and (3)
5	Mark your 45-day date	Section 61.21(5)
6	Complete at least 4 hours	DCF rule 65C-32.002
7	Pass the end-of-course test	DCF rule 65C-32.004
8	Check your certificate	DCF rule 65C-32.004
9	File proof before the final judgment	Section 61.21(5)
10	Keep a copy	DCF rule 65C-32.004 (provider records)

Each step is explained below.

Before You Start: Gather These Details

A few facts make the checklist easier. Have these ready before step 1:

Your role. Are you the petitioner, who filed, or the respondent, who was served?
Your dates. The filing date, or the date you were served.
Your case number. The Fourth Circuit says to register for a class once you have it.
Your circuit. The circuit sets local rules, so know which one hears your case.
Your child’s needs. Note any special needs or emotional concerns.

Step 1: Confirm the Course Applies to Your Case

The statute requires the course for all parties to a divorce with minor children. It also covers paternity cases about parental responsibility. If you have no minor children, this checklist does not apply.

“All parties” means both parents. Our guide on who has to take the course sorts out the case types.

Step 2: Decide if You Need a Special-Needs Course

Ask one question before you shop for a course. Does your child have identified special needs or emotional concerns? If yes, the statute says the parents must select a course built for those needs.

DCF keeps a special-needs course list for this. A judge may also order extra courses on these needs.

Step 3: Read Your Court’s Local Rules

Each judicial circuit can add steps. Check your circuit’s family court page and your clerk’s site before you enroll. These official sources show what local rules can look like:

Duval, Clay, Nassau (Fourth Circuit). The standing family-law order calls for a qualified in-person program. The court’s FAQ says to register once you have a case number.
Miami-Dade (Eleventh Circuit). The court’s FAQ says a child aged 6 to 17 must attend a 3½-hour class.
Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, Volusia (Seventh Circuit). The order FM-2024-016-SC says to enroll within 20 days and finish before court-ordered mediation or trial, whichever is sooner.

If your court requires in-person classes, an online course will not meet its rule. Ask the clerk if the page is unclear.

Step 4: Choose a Course on DCF’s List

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) approves the courses, providers and sites. Use the DCF provider list to find one. Its columns include the course name, provider, languages, delivery method, indigent status and expiration date.

Florida law requires DCF to approve at least one statewide internet course and one correspondence course. Even so, your court decides which formats it accepts. Our guide on choosing a DCF-approved course shows how to check the list.

The last tasks of the Florida parent course, from the test to a filed and saved certificate — Divorce in Florida With Children: Parent Course Checklist 3

Step 5: Mark Your 45-Day Date

Section 61.21(5) sets the deadline. The petitioner finishes within 45 days after filing the petition. The other parent finishes within 45 days after service.

Each parent should begin “as expeditiously as possible.” So write your date down on the day your clock starts. Our timing guide shows how to count it.

Step 6: Complete at Least 4 Hours

DCF rule 65C-32.002 sets the length. A course is at least 4 hours, including instruction, exercises and the end-of-course test.

Online courses have extra rules. They must stop anyone from finishing in less than 4 hours.

Every course must verify who is taking it. Online and correspondence instructors must answer content questions within one business day.

Step 7: Pass the End-of-Course Test

DCF rule 65C-32.004 sets the test rules:

Passing score. At least 70 percent.
Attempts. “Participants shall have an unlimited number of attempts.”
Review. Below 70 percent, you review the missed material before you try again.
Fees. Providers may not charge more for the extra time or instruction.

The certificate only comes after a passing score.

Step 8: Check Your Certificate

The provider gives a certificate to each parent who finishes the 4 hours and scores at least 70 percent. Under rule 65C-32.004, it must show:

the name of the course
the provider’s name and contact information
the curriculum name, if there is one
the date you began and the date you finished

Read it before you file. If something looks wrong, contact the provider. Providers must have a way to verify that their certificates are real.

Step 9: File Proof Before the Final Judgment

Section 61.21(5) says each party files proof of completion with the court before the final judgment. Finishing the course is not enough on its own.

Courts describe this step in different ways. The Broward County Clerk says to file the Certificate of Attendance in the court file “immediately.” The Ninth Circuit’s order 07-98-37-01 says to give it to the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Follow your own clerk’s instructions.

Step 10: Keep a Copy

Keep your own copy after you file. It is your record that you finished.

If you lose it, the provider is the first place to ask. DCF rule 65C-32.004 requires providers to keep copies of all certificates for five years. A filed certificate is also in the court file.

If You Are the Respondent

The checklist is the same for the parent who was served, with one change. Your 45 days start at service, not at filing. So your date may be later than the other parent’s.

You still take your own course and file your own proof. The other parent’s certificate does not count for you. Parents do not have to attend together, and the court may bar joint attendance if there is a history of domestic violence.

In a Paternity Case

Unmarried parents in a paternity case about parental responsibility use the same checklist. Only step 5 changes. The petitioner 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. Our paternity and time-sharing guide explains these events.

Budget for the Course

Plan for a fee for each parent. Section 61.21(7) allows “a reasonable fee” per parent, and no state law sets a price.

Lower-cost options exist. DCF must list at least one sliding-fee site in each circuit, if available, and its provider list has an indigent status column. Providers may not charge extra for the time or help needed to pass the test.

Where the Course Fits With Other Tasks

The parent course is one part of a divorce with children. It is not the parenting plan. Under section 61.13, a plan approved by the court must include a time-sharing schedule and other terms.

The course also does not replace any other step your court sets. Our divorce checklist for parents covers the wider set of steps.

Who to Ask at Each Step

Different people can help with different parts of the list:

The clerk can explain local filing steps, but not give legal advice.
The course provider can answer questions about the course and your certificate.
DCF takes complaints about providers at Parentstabilizationcourse@myflfamilies.com, listed on its course provider page.
A Florida family law attorney can answer legal questions about your own case.

The course material itself must tell you to consult a licensed attorney for specific legal questions.

What We Found on the Official Pages

On the DCF and court pages checked on October 26, 2026, the DCF provider list showed its column headings, including Delivery Method and Exp. Date. Each approval on the list lasts three years under DCF rules.

The Fourth Circuit’s FAQ said parents must register for one of three named in-class programs. Miami-Dade’s FAQ said courses are offered in English and Spanish.

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.

Local extras that some Florida circuits add to the parent course — Divorce in Florida With Children: Parent Course Checklist 4

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Each item is based on section 61.21, a DCF rule or a court page:

Skipping the local rules. Some courts require in-person classes.
Choosing a general course for a child with special needs. The statute calls for a special-needs course.
Counting from the wrong date. Filing and service start different clocks.
Stopping after a low score. Attempts are unlimited.
Not reading the certificate. Check the course name, provider and dates.
Finishing but not filing. Proof must reach the court before the final judgment.

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 do parents need to do for the course before the final divorce?

Each parent completes a DCF-approved course, passes the test, and files proof with the court before the final judgment. Check your court’s local rules first.

How long do I have to finish?

The petitioner has 45 days after filing. The other parent has 45 days after service. Begin as soon as you can.

What score do I need?

At least 70 percent. DCF rules give unlimited attempts and require a review of missed material before each retake.

What should the certificate show?

The course name, the provider’s name and contact information, the curriculum name if any, and your start and finish dates.

Do both parents need their own certificate?

Yes. The provider gives a certificate to each parent who finishes and passes. Each parent files proof with the court.

Can I take the course before I file?

The statute does not say. Local rules differ, so check with your court first. Our guide on taking the class before filing explains the options.

What if I lose my certificate?

Contact the provider first. Providers must keep copies of all certificates for five years. A filed certificate is also in the court file.

Conclusion

For a divorce in Florida with children, work through the course checklist early: pick a DCF-approved course, check local rules, finish within 45 days, pass the test, and file proof before the final judgment. Keep a copy of your certificate once it is filed. You can take DivorceParentingClass.net’s online Florida parent education course, but first 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.