What can a parent do when the other parent is not following the parenting plan?

When one parent is not complying with an existing parenting plan — for example, denying time-sharing, repeatedly returning the child late, or making unilateral decisions the plan requires be shared — the other parent has options. Florida law allows a parent to seek enforcement of the parenting plan through the court, which can order remedies such as make-up time-sharing, require completion of a parenting course, award attorney’s fees, and in serious cases hold a non-compliant parent in contempt. Before escalating to a contested court proceeding, however, mediation can often resolve the underlying problem more constructively, addressing why the plan is breaking down and adjusting it where appropriate. Because these parents typically must continue co-parenting for years, a mediated solution that restores a workable arrangement is frequently far better for the family than a punitive court fight.