A mandatory 4-Hour program for parents with minor children
This is a mandatory 4-hour program for parents who are separated, divorcing or involved in paternity actions and they have minor children (under 18 years). This class teaches parents about divorce and how their options and their decisions could affect their lives and the lives of their children. Pre-registration is required for this course.
This is the online version of the ("Parenting for Separated & Divorcing Moms & Dads") course.
Within 24 hours after you register, you will be directed to the page where you can access the course. After completing the course, you will be able to print the certificate of completion that you require for court purposes.
Florida Statutes (61.21 F.S.), make it a requirement for divorcing parents with minor children and those who are involved in paternity actions to take a 4-hour parenting course before final judgment is rendered, unless they obtain special exemptions from the courts. Parenting courses must be approved by the Florida Department of Children and Families and each curriculum must fulfill the “Parent Education and Family Stabilization” requirements of the Florida Statutes. This class must be completed before divorce can granted and before paternity actions are finalized.
The beneficial nature of parenting and divorce education courses in assisting both adults and children is well-known. Through these classes, parents receive valuable information about divorce and how it could affect them and their children. They also learn skills that they can use to help themselves and their children adjust appropriately to this major loss.
Some divorce-related matters that are addressed in this course include the following:
- Basic information about divorce
- The impact of divorce on adults and children
- Child development
- How parents can help themselves and their children cope effectively with divorce
- Parents’ and Children’s basic needs
- The stages of grief and loss
- Parenting during divorce and co-parenting afterwards
- Basic divorce-related concepts such as: time-sharing, parenting plans and mediation
- Child abuse and neglect
- Domestic violence
- Communicating effectively after divorce
- Available community resources to assist parents and children
Parenting classes are available both in classroom settings and on the Internet. Parents should be aware, however, that online parenting classes are not accepted in all jurisdictions. Therefore, before deciding to enroll in an online course; parents should check with their attorneys or with the Clerk of the Courts Office in the jurisdiction in which their legal action was filed, to ensure that courses taken online will be accepted.