Parenting Coordinator

Parenting coordinators can be very helpful in situations where there are difficulties with the other parent regarding decision making. Perhaps it’s an issue regarding extra curricular activities. You and the other parent are unable to agree on whether or not your daughter will take horseback riding lessons or perhaps it’s for a teenager and getting a driver’s license. These are typical example where we request through the Court that a parenting coordinator be appointed. We highly recommend this as a good option as opposed to having to go to Court and ask the Judge to rule on a particular issue with your children. One of the typical situations that would involve a parenting coordinator is where there’s a high conflict and the parents have difficulty reaching an agreement for a number of reasons. The typical parenting coordinator could be a licensed psychologist, a mental health professional on what we call the Court approved list, that is, the Superior Court approves various mental health professionals – psychologists, Ph.D, psychiatrists for their services for a fee to act as the parenting coordinator. This can be done during the divorce process, following the divorce process as what we call a post decree matter where we ask the Court to appoint a parenting coordinator. There are also private attorneys who are very experienced and very good serving as parenting coordinators – acting as a referee or mediator when issues come up such as where the child will attend school. We go through the meeting with the parenting coordinator to attempt to resolve the issue. If the parents cannot reach an agreement, the parenting coordinator will issue a report to your assigned Judge indicating the outcome of the meeting that a decision was not reached and perhaps make a recommendation. Either party can object to the parenting coordinator’s report, and then the judge will set a hearing at that time. This typically will save you a lot of money, time and emotional distress by going to a parenting coordinator where you have input. You can sit down and give the parenting coordinator your ideas of what’s in the child(ren)’s best interest. Why your child should attend private school, why the child should get his/her driver’s license or why not. I believe it’s a good option versus having to go to Court and tell your story in front of the Judge. Remember you will be subject to cross examination from the other parent’s attorney which can be quite emotionally draining. So, ultimately the parenting coordinator is a good option for you.]]>