Parenting Coordinator

Helping high-conflict parents work together

A Parenting Coordinator is a lawyer or therapist appointed by the Court to work with parents to make the decisions that are necessary for children to thrive.

They are highly trained, neutral third parties assigned to custody cases for the purpose of reducing conflict and assisting parents to co-parent effectively.

Parenting Coordinators are neutral and interested solely in the best interests of the children. When parents cannot agree on child-related issues, the Parent Coordinator has the authority to make binding decisions.

Parenting coordinators can help parents in a number of ways, including:

  • Reducing conflict: Parenting coordinators can help parents communicate more effectively and resolve disputes in a constructive way.
  • Improving communication skills: Parenting coordinators can teach parents how to listen to each other and express their concerns in a way that is respectful and productive.
  • Teaching co-parenting techniques: Parenting coordinators can help parents develop a parenting plan.
  • Making decisions: In some cases, parenting coordinators may be authorized to make decisions about the children, such as where they will go to school or enrollment in extracurricular activities.
  • Reduce court appearances: The parenting coordinator reduces, or even eliminates, the need to bring matters before the Court. This alleviates the uncertainty of a court appearance and general unease in having a judge determine the best interests of the children.

Parenting coordinators can be a valuable resource for parents who are struggling to co-parent effectively. If you are considering using a parenting coordinator, it is important to talk to your attorney to learn more about how they can help you.