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Divorce
Education Programs
for
Parents and Children
Pursuant
to Florida Statute 61.21, Administrative Order of the
Chief Judge and the Order of the Family Court Administrative
Judge, divorcing parents and their children must
complete parenting and child education courses before
a divorce is granted. The classes are
designed to help parents and their children adjust with
the changes that come with divorce.
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
Divorce Education
Programs
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Who
must attend the divorce education classes?
If you have
filed a petition for divorce, paternity or change in
custody and have a child under the age of 18:
Both you and your spouse must attend a 4 hour parenting
course to
help separating and divorcing couples focus on what
is in the best interest of their children and how to
work more cooperatively with each other. However,
you do not have to attend the course together with your
spouse.
Additionally, if you have a child between the ages
of 6 and 17:
Your child must attend a 3 ½ hour class for children
of divorcing parents. This program helps children
feel comfortable in sharing their thoughts and feelings
about their parents' divorce through a variety of activities,
such as drawing, roleplaying and creative writing, appropriately
developed for different age groups.
What
will happen if parents or their children do not attend
the divorce education classes?
The Judge
may choose not to grant the divorce or may hold a parent
in contempt of court.
Where
can I get details on class schedules and registration?
When
you file for divorce at the Clerk's Office in one of
Miami-Dade County's branch
courts
or the Courthouse
Center, you will be given a packet which
includes a wide range of locations and class schedules,
including nights and weekends, applications for registration
and other information, such as how to register by phone,
fax, mail or on the Internet. The following
three organizations have been certified by the
Court to provide divorce education courses:
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Parents'
and Children's Courses:
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Parents'
Course Only:
http://www.educationprograms.com
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Miami-Dade
Community College
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Parents,
Children & Divorce
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- South
Campus: (305) 237-2161
- North
Campus: (305) 237-1019
- Wolfson
(Downtown): (305) 237-7636
- Hearing
Impaired TDD: (305) 237-2343
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- 1-800-767-8193
- Hearing
Impaired: 1-800-955-8771
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American
Therapeutic Services, Inc.
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Please
note that you must register before the date the class
is scheduled.
Registration on the day or night the class is held will
not be accepted. Also, if you arrive late,
you will not receive a certificate of completion,
which must be filed with the Clerk's Office before your
divorce is granted.
How
much do the classes cost?
Parents
and children's classes range between $18.00 and $26.00
each. Fees will be waived for persons whose income is
below the federal poverty guidelines.
What
do parents and their children learn from these classes?
Parents
learn about how divorce or separation affects their
children, how to help them adjust to the changes, and
their responsibility as a "Parent Forever". The
children's classes help them learn how to cope with
their parent's divorce and encourage them to share their
feelings with others in their age group.
Who
is allowed to attend the parenting course with me? Can
I sit in on the class my child is taking?
Children
are not allowed to attend the parenting course. However,
significant others, grandparents and step parents are
encouraged to attend because they may be making decisions
that affect the child. In the children's course, the
parent who brings the child to class is invited to sit
in on the last 30 minutes of the 3 ½ hour program to
discuss divorce-related issues with the group. If there
is no restraining order, the other parent may also attend
this part of this session. It is therefore
important to schedule the parent's course at a different
time than the children's class.
My
divorce was filed in Miami-Dade County, but I don't
live there. Do I have to take the parenting course?
If you live
in Florida, the Court requires that you attend one of
the many approved parent education programs throughout
the State. You
may call the local Clerk of Court in your county for
parenting class information. If you live outside of
Florida and are unable to find an approved program that
meets Florida's requirements, you may take a correspondence
course by mail. Further information can be found
in the packet you will receive from the Clerk's Office
when your divorce is filed.
What
languages are the classes offered in?
Divorce
education courses in Miami-Dade County are offered in
English and Spanish.
Who
do I call if I have other questions?
You may
call the Family Operations Division at (305) 349-5934.
How
do persons with disabilities make arrangements for special
services needed to attend the classes?
The Court
has certified several courses which meet Florida's requirements
for divorce education classes and offer special services
for persons with disabilities. You may call the
organization
directly to make arrangements or indicate the special
services needed on the application provided in your
information packet.
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