Is a parenting class required for divorce?

In most states, yes — a short court-approved co-parenting course (4–6 hours, 5–$75, often online) is required before any divorce or custody order involving minor children is finalized. Check your state court's approved provider list.

What's the difference between mediation and court?

Mediation is a confidential negotiation with a neutral third party helping both parents agree on a parenting plan. It's faster, cheaper, and less adversarial than litigation. If mediation fails or one parent refuses, the court decides. Court-based mediation programs are usually free or sliding-scale.

Which co-parenting apps do courts accept?

OurFamilyWizard, Talking Parents, and 2Houses are court-admissible in most US jurisdictions. They provide tamper-proof message logs, shared calendars, expense tracking, and documentation judges will read if conflict escalates.

What is a parenting plan?

A written document (required in every custody order) detailing where the child lives, when each parent has parenting time, how decisions are made, how holidays are handled, how to resolve disputes, and how to handle changes. Courts provide templates; customized plans are stronger than boilerplate.

Co-Parenting in Florida

18 verified resources.

About Co-Parenting for Fathers

Co-parenting programs help separated and divorced parents share custody constructively, minimize conflict, and raise children across two households. Most states require court-ordered parent education (often called 'parenting classes' or 'children first' programs) before finalizing a divorce or custody order involving minor children. These classes are usually four to six hours, available online or in person, and cost 5–$75. Private co-parenting mediation is available through court-based mediation programs (often free or sliding-scale) and through private mediators certified by state mediation councils. Digital tools like OurFamilyWizard, Talking Parents, and 2Houses provide court-admissible communication logs, shared calendars, expense tracking, and messaging — many family courts now encourage or require their use in high-conflict cases. This directory includes all three: state-required classes, mediators, and co-parenting apps.

Co-Parenting in Florida

Florida handles family law in circuit courts across its 20 judicial circuits. The Department of Revenue Child Support Program oversees enforcement statewide. Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, and Fort Lauderdale are the largest metros. Florida has an active self-help court system, free online parenting courses, and Bay Area Legal Services, Three Rivers Legal Services, and other LSC programs providing representation.

18 Resources

1. Florida Parent Education & Family Stabilization Course (DCF) — Paid

Court-required 4-hour parenting course for all Florida divorce/custody cases involving children under 18. Required by Florida Statute 61.21. Petitioner must complete within 45 days of filing; respondent within 45 days of being served. Approved providers offer online formats for convenience. Certificate must be filed with the court before a final order is issued. Covers child development, reducing conflict, and co-parenting communication.

850-487-1111 · 1317 Winewood Blvd, Tallahassee, FL 32399 · Online courses available 24/7 · Visit Website

2. Children in Between Online (Center for Divorce Education) — Paid

One of the most widely used DCF-approved co-parenting courses in Florida for over 30 years. Self-paced online format lets you log in and out over 30 days to complete the required 4-hour course. Certificate filed directly with the court upon completion. Covers the impact of separation on children, healthy co-parenting communication, and reducing parental conflict. Accepted in all 67 Florida counties. Complete at your own pace on any device.

866-524-4675 · Visit Website

3. Florida Kids Matter - Online Parenting Course — Paid

DCF-approved Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course required by Florida courts. 4-hour online course covering the impact of divorce and separation on children, healthy co-parenting communication, reducing parental conflict, and child development milestones. Self-paced and accessible on any device. Certificate provided upon completion for court filing. Accepted in all Florida judicial circuits. Call 800-281-4038 for assistance.

800-281-4038 · Online - available 24/7 · Visit Website

4. OurFamilyWizard Co-Parenting App — Paid

The #1 co-parenting app trusted by courts in all 50 states including Florida. Used by hundreds of family court judges. Features unalterable messaging that is fully court-admissible, shared calendars for scheduling, expense tracking with reimbursement requests, and ToneMeter AI to reduce conflict. Both parents and their attorneys can access records. Available on iOS and Android. Subscription-based with discounts for low-income families.

Visit Website

5. Miami-Dade Court Family Mediation (11th Judicial Circuit) — Free

Court-connected family mediation for dissolution of marriage, paternity, custody, and time-sharing disputes in Miami-Dade County (11th Judicial Circuit). Certified mediators serve as neutral third parties to help parents reach agreements outside of court. Reduced fees for families with combined income under

00,000. Contact the courthouse to request a referral or ask your judge to order mediation. Call 305-349-7344 to schedule.

305-349-7344 · 73 W Flagler St, Room 1801, Miami, FL 33130 · Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM · Visit Website

6. Hillsborough County Court Mediation (13th Judicial Circuit - Tampa) — Free

Court-connected family mediation services for custody, divorce, and time-sharing cases in Hillsborough County (13th Judicial Circuit). Supreme Court certified mediators help parents reach parenting plan agreements without going to trial. Free or reduced-cost mediation for qualifying families based on income. Call 813-272-5642 or email mediation@fljud13.org to schedule. Bring income documentation to qualify for reduced fees.

813-272-5642 · Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM · Visit Website

7. Broward County Family Mediation (17th Judicial Circuit) — Free

Court family mediation program serving Broward County (17th Judicial Circuit). Handles dissolution of marriage, paternity, custody, and parenting plan disputes. Certified mediators help parents reach timesharing agreements without going to trial. Reduced fees available based on household income. Contact the courthouse or your attorney to request mediation. Call 954-831-6325 or visit the 17th circuit website for scheduling information.

954-831-6325 · Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM · Visit Website

8. Palm Beach County Court Mediation (15th Judicial Circuit) — Free

Family mediation services for Palm Beach County families involved in divorce, custody, and parenting plan disputes (15th Judicial Circuit). Court-connected program with Supreme Court certified mediators helping parents reach agreements on timesharing and parental responsibility. Reduced fees available for qualifying low-income families. Call 561-355-2718 or email CAD-MediationRef@pbcgov.org to request an appointment or ask your judge for a referral.

561-355-2718 · Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM · Visit Website

9. Orlando/Orange County Family Mediation (9th Judicial Circuit) — Free

Court family mediation for Orange and Osceola counties (9th Judicial Circuit) covering dissolution, paternity, and child custody disputes. Supreme Court certified mediators assist parents in reaching parenting plan and timesharing agreements outside of court. Reduced-fee mediation available based on combined household income. Located at 425 N Orange Ave, Orlando. Call 407-836-2060 or contact your judge's office for a mediation referral.

407-836-2060 · 425 N Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32801 · Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM · Visit Website

10. Brevard/Seminole County Mediation (18th Judicial Circuit) — Free

Court-connected family mediation serving Brevard and Seminole counties (18th Judicial Circuit). Handles custody, parenting plans, timesharing, and family law disputes. Certified mediators help parents avoid costly trials by reaching negotiated agreements. Reduced fees available for qualifying families. Call 321-637-5700 or contact the 18th Circuit directly to schedule or request a referral from your judge. Visit flcourts18.org for details.

321-637-5700 · Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM · Visit Website

11. Volusia/Flagler County Mediation (7th Judicial Circuit) — Free

Court-connected family mediation for Volusia, Flagler, Putnam, and St. Johns counties (7th Judicial Circuit). Free or reduced-fee mediation for qualifying families to resolve custody, parenting plan, and timesharing disputes. Certified mediators facilitate negotiations to help parents reach agreements and avoid contested hearings. Call 386-248-8117 or contact circuit7.org for scheduling. Bring proof of income to determine fee eligibility.

386-248-8117 · Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM · Visit Website

12. Lee County Court Mediation (20th Judicial Circuit - Fort Myers) — Free

Court-connected family mediation for Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Hendry, and Glades counties (20th Judicial Circuit). Certified mediators help parents reach custody and timesharing agreements without going to trial. Reduced fees available based on household income. Call 239-533-1723 to request mediation or ask your judge for a court-ordered referral. Visit ca.cjis20.org for program details and required documentation to bring to your session.

239-533-1723 · Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM · Visit Website

13. Escambia County Court Mediation (1st Judicial Circuit - Pensacola) — Free

Court-connected family mediation serving the Pensacola and Panhandle area for custody and timesharing disputes in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties (1st Judicial Circuit). Certified mediators help parents resolve parenting plan disagreements without a contested hearing. Reduced fees available for qualifying families. Call 850-595-4310 or contact the First Judicial Circuit courthouse to schedule or request a judge referral.

850-595-4310 · Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM · Visit Website

14. Duval County Court Mediation (4th Judicial Circuit - Jacksonville) — Free

Court family mediation for Duval, Clay, and Nassau counties (4th Judicial Circuit). Helps parents resolve custody, parenting plan, and timesharing disputes without going to trial. Supreme Court certified mediators facilitate negotiations in a neutral setting. Reduced fees available based on combined income. Call 904-255-1060 or contact the 4th Circuit courthouse to schedule. Ask your judge for a mediation referral order to get started.

904-255-1060 · Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM · Visit Website

15. Pinellas County Court Mediation (6th Judicial Circuit - St. Petersburg) — Free

Court-connected family mediation serving Pinellas and Pasco counties (6th Judicial Circuit) for custody, parenting plan, and timesharing disputes. Supreme Court certified mediators help parents reach negotiated agreements outside of court. Reduced fees for qualifying families with lower household income. Call 727-582-7240 or contact the 6th Circuit courthouse to schedule a session or request a referral order from your judge.

727-582-7240 · Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM · Visit Website

16. Polk County Court Mediation (10th Judicial Circuit - Bartow) — Free

Court family mediation serving Polk, Hardee, and Highlands counties (10th Judicial Circuit). Certified mediators help parents resolve custody and parenting plan disputes outside of court. Free mediation available for qualifying low-income families. Call 863-534-4000 to schedule or ask your family court judge for a mediation referral order. Bring proof of income to qualify for reduced or waived fees at the Bartow courthouse.

863-534-4000 · Mon-Fri 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM · Visit Website

17. TalkingParents — Co-Parenting Communication Platform — Free

Court-admissible co-parenting communication app with unalterable, timestamped records accepted as evidence in Florida family courts. Free basic plan includes secure messaging and a shared calendar. Premium plans add phone call recording, expense tracking, and information library. All communication logs are permanently stored and cannot be deleted by either party. Available on iOS, Android, and web browser. Visit talkingparents.com to get started.

Visit Website

18. Cooperative Parenting Institute — Florida Workshops — Paid

In-person and online co-parenting workshops and classes going beyond the court-required 4-hour course. Teaches conflict reduction, parallel parenting strategies, and child-focused communication skills. Ideal for high-conflict co-parenting situations. Programs include Putting Kids First and Co-Parenting Bootcamp. Call 866-753-3252 to enroll or learn more. Available throughout Florida and online nationwide. CE credits available for professionals.

866-753-3252 · Visit Website

Co-Parenting — Common Questions

Is a parenting class required for divorce?: In most states, yes — a short court-approved co-parenting course (4–6 hours, 5–$75, often online) is required before any divorce or custody order involving minor children is finalized. Check your state court's approved provider list.
What's the difference between mediation and court?: Mediation is a confidential negotiation with a neutral third party helping both parents agree on a parenting plan. It's faster, cheaper, and less adversarial than litigation. If mediation fails or one parent refuses, the court decides. Court-based mediation programs are usually free or sliding-scale.
Which co-parenting apps do courts accept?: OurFamilyWizard, Talking Parents, and 2Houses are court-admissible in most US jurisdictions. They provide tamper-proof message logs, shared calendars, expense tracking, and documentation judges will read if conflict escalates.
What is a parenting plan?: A written document (required in every custody order) detailing where the child lives, when each parent has parenting time, how decisions are made, how holidays are handled, how to resolve disputes, and how to handle changes. Courts provide templates; customized plans are stronger than boilerplate.