Parenting Coordination is an alternative dispute resolution service for high conflict families. It is important for parents to know that Parenting Coordination is a process that takes place after a final parenting plan has been created. This is done either through court order, arbitration, or by consent of the parents in a process such as mediation.
The Parenting Coordinator has two general functions. One is as a coach/educator/facilitator, who attempts to minimize parental conflict and enhance parallel parenting, cooperation, and mutual respect. The second function is to assist parents to implement, maintain and comply with their Parenting Plan. If there is a dispute and the parents cannot come to a mutual agreement either on their own or with the assistance of the Parenting Coordinator, the Parenting Coordinator makes final and binding decisions in keeping with the children’s best interests for matters that are not designated otherwise in the Parenting Plan.
Parents may want to hire a Parenting Coordinator when other avenues of conflict resolution have been unsuccessful and disagreements between the parents continue to persist.
Click here to view the Parenting Coordination information sheet for parents and lawyers (PDF)
