What Does a Court-Appointed Parenting Coordinator Do?
When parents separate or divorce, the expectation is often that they will follow their parenting plan, communicate about their children, and resolve routine parenting disagreements themselves.
For high-conflict families, that can be much easier said than done.
A disagreement about a pickup time can turn into dozens of messages. Decisions about extracurricular activities may become major disputes. Parents may repeatedly disagree about school, medical appointments, holidays, transportation, communication, or interpretation of the parenting plan.
When these patterns continue, the court may appoint or approve a Parenting Coordinator to assist the family.
What Is Parent Coordination?
Parent coordination is a structured process designed to assist parents experiencing persistent co-parenting conflict.
The exact role and authority of a Parenting Coordinator can vary depending on applicable law, the court's order, the professional's appointment, and the family's circumstances.
Generally, Parent Coordination focuses on helping parents better implement their parenting plan, manage recurring disputes, communicate more effectively, and reduce children's exposure to parental conflict.
Parent Coordination should not be confused with individual psychotherapy or couples counseling. The focus is generally not repairing the parents' romantic relationship or providing treatment for a mental health diagnosis.
The focus is the co-parenting relationship and implementation of parenting responsibilities.
What Issues Can a Parenting Coordinator Address?
Depending on the appointment and applicable rules, common areas of concern may include:
Communication between parents
Parenting schedules and transitions
Exchanges
Extracurricular activities
School-related concerns
Children's appointments
Vacations and holidays
Boundaries between households
Repeated disagreements regarding the parenting plan
Children's exposure to adult conflict
One of the most important goals is often helping parents establish a more predictable process for handling disagreements.
Instead of every disagreement becoming another crisis, parents learn how to address parenting concerns in a more structured manner.
What Happens After a Parenting Coordinator Is Appointed?
Parents should carefully review their court order and any Parent Coordination agreement.
The intake process may include completing paperwork, reviewing fees and policies, providing relevant court documents, participating in individual meetings, and attending joint meetings when appropriate.
The Parenting Coordinator may also need to understand the family's history, current parenting plan, areas of repeated conflict, and previous attempts to resolve those issues.
Participation and responsiveness matter.
If a court has ordered Parent Coordination, parents should avoid assuming that they can simply ignore outreach from the appointed professional. Questions regarding compliance with a specific court order should be directed to the parent's attorney.
Is the Parenting Coordinator on One Parent's Side?
No professional serving in a neutral court-related role should approach the case as one parent's personal advocate.
Parents sometimes enter Parent Coordination hoping the professional will determine that the other parent is “the problem.”
That is usually counterproductive.
The process should remain focused on parenting behavior, communication, implementation of the parenting plan, conflict reduction, and the needs of the children.
Why High-Conflict Families May Benefit
Children can be significantly affected by persistent parental conflict even when adults believe they are shielding them from it.
Conflict can appear through hostile exchanges, negative comments, pressure to carry messages, questioning children about the other household, or placing children in situations where they feel they must choose sides.
Parent Coordination can create greater structure around these interactions.
The goal is not necessarily to make former partners like one another.
A more realistic goal may be helping them develop a functional businesslike parenting relationship centered on their children's needs.
When Should Attorneys Consider Parent Coordination?
Parent Coordination may be worth considering when the same parents repeatedly return to disputes despite having a parenting plan in place.
Cases involving chronic communication problems, repeated interpretation disputes, difficulty implementing schedules, or ongoing conflict around routine parenting matters may warrant consideration.
Whether Parent Coordination is legally appropriate for a particular case is ultimately a legal question.
Mental health professionals can provide the clinical and family-systems expertise needed to help families work within the structure established by the court.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Parent Coordination the same as therapy?No. Parent Coordination and psychotherapy serve different purposes. Parent Coordination focuses primarily on managing parenting disputes, implementing parenting arrangements, and reducing co-parenting conflict.
Can a Parenting Coordinator change custody?The Parenting Coordinator's authority depends on applicable law and the specific court appointment. Parents should review their order and consult their attorneys regarding legal authority.
Do both parents have to participate?If participation has been ordered by the court, parents should consult their attorneys regarding their obligations under that order.
How long does Parent Coordination last?The length varies based on the court order, appointment, family circumstances, and progress of the case.
Need Parent Coordination Services?
New Direction Counseling & Consulting provides specialized services for court-involved and high-conflict families. Parents, attorneys, and other referring professionals may contact NDCC regarding Parent Coordination availability, intake requirements, fees, and referral procedures.
Parents: Request information about beginning services.
Attorneys/Professionals: Contact NDCC regarding a referral or potential appointment.
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