Florida Mandatory Parenting Class

For parents divorcing with minor children in Florida, completion of a Florida Parent Education and Family Stabilization Course is mandatory prior to finalization of the divorce decree. This class is four hours in duration and approved by the Florida Department of Children and Families. The course reviews the effects of divorce on children and parents, skill-based parent education, basic legal issues involved for a divorce with minor children, and child abuse/neglect.

Most judicial circuits in the state of Florida accept the completion of an online course, but there is a small handful that generally requires in-class participation only (e.g., 1st Judicial Circuit, 4th Judicial circuit, 6th judicial circuit, and certain judges within the other circuits). Even in the circuits where the completion of an online class is generally prohibited, you may be granted a waiver to complete your class online if you make a request to the judge in your case. It is important to understand beforehand whether or not an online class is acceptable where your case will be processed.

The main advantage of completing the course online is flexibility. You can log on and off at your convenience, and a timer keeps track of the time you have spent reviewing the content. After you have spent four hours engaged in the course, a personalized certificate of completion is automatically, and immediately available for printing. Click Here to access and complete your mandatory Florida Divorce Parenting Class Online.

Judicial district parenting class requirements: (valid as of August 2012. You should check with the Judicial Assistant for the Judge assigned to your case for their policy about taking the seminar online)

Online class is accepted in the following judicial circuits:

2nd Judicial Circuit Franklin, Gadsen, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, and Wakulla

3rd Judicial Circuit Columbia, Dixie, Hamilton, Lafayette, Madison, Suwannee, and Taylor

5th Judicial Circuit Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion, and Sumter

7th Judicial Circuit Flagler, Putnam, St. Johns, and Volusia

8th Judicial Circuit Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Gilchrist, Levy, and Union

9th Judicial Circuit Orange and Osceola

10th Judicial Circuit Hardee, Highlands, and Polk

11th Judicial Circuit Dade

13th Judicial Circuit Hillsborough

(Clerks' office reported that most judges in the 13th Circuit will approve an online course. Call clerk at 813-276-8100 for specific questions about your judge. Note: A recommendation may be made for an online program that is more expensive. They stated that for judges that accept an online course, it need only be Florida DCF approved, and approval is not contingent upon taking a specific parenting course).

14th Judicial Circuit Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, and Washington.

15th Judicial Circuit Palm Beach

16th Judicial Circuit Monroe County

17th Judicial Circuit Broward

Judicial Circuits listed below are those in which online class is only accepted with the permission of the judge. (Call your judges' assistant to inquire if an online, Florida DCF approved course is permissible once your case has been assigned):

1st Judicial Circuit Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton

4th Judicial Circuit Clay, Duval, and Nassau

6th Judicial Circuit Pasco and Pinellas

12th Judicial Circuit DeSoto, Manatee, and Sarasota

18th Judicial Circuit Brevard, Seminole

19th Judicial Circuit Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee

20th Judicial Circuit Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee