
Parenting Coordination serves two purposes:
- To educate parents to problem solve and work through their disagreements.
- To make decisions when the parents can’t or won’t.
Parenting Coordination starts with a court order or written agreement for these services. Whatever document is used it is important that it be as specific as possible. Rule 909 clearly outlines what the P.C. can and cannot do. Section 909 informs as to the duties of a P.C.
- Assists coparents with clarifying, implementing, and complying with their parenting plan.
- Helping co-parents reduce their misunderstanding, clarify priorities, explore possibilities for compromise, and develop methods of collaboration in parenting their children.
- Educating coparents about their children’s needs in order to make timely and appropriate decisions in a manner consistent with the children’s developmental and psychological needs.
- Timely resolving conflicts that may arise concerning parenting plans in order to reduce the amount of damaging conflict between coparents to which children are exposed and diminish a pattern of unnecessary re-litigation about child related issues.
Basis for the appointment of a Parenting Coordinator. Following the entry of an order of a parenting plan or prior to entry if approved by a court, after considering the allegations or evidence of intimate partner violence where one coparent has exhibited or continues to exhibit or continues to exhibit patterns of violence, threats, intimidation, and coercive control over a coparent, a parenting coordinator may be appointed by the court when deemed in the best interests of the child (ren) due to any of the following:
- The coparents have failed to adequately cooperate and communicate about issues involving their children.
- The coparents have been unable to implement the existing parenting plan or parenting schedule.
- Mediation has not been successful or has been determined by the court to be inappropriate.
- The agreement of the coparents; and
- For such other reason as the court deems appropriate that does not exceed the authority under this Rule.
Duties of the Parenting Coordinator. A Parenting Coordinator facilitates the resolution of conflict among coparents regarding an existing parenting plan in a marital dissolution, parentage or post judgment case to”
- Monitor parental behaviors, including the compliance or lack thereof, with orders entered in their case by the court.
- Mediate and make recommendations with respect to, disputes between the coparents upon request of a coparent or court order.
- Make recommendations to the coparents for outside resources as needed and/or guidelines or rules for communication between the coparents.
- Document allegations of noncompliance for the court; and
- Make recommendations to the court upon proper notice and petition.
A parenting coordinator is authorized to make specific recommendations regarding the existing parenting plan including, but not limited to:
- The time, place, and manner for the pick-up or drop off of the children in relation to the coparent’ designated parenting time or nonparent visitation.
- Disputes regarding the extent nature of the children’s participating in educational and extracurricular activities including payment of expenses;
- Minor alterations of parenting time or non -parent visitation to accommodate changes in schedule or availability of the child or coparent, including make-up time if permitted by prior court order;
- Holiday scheduling
- Discipline and problematic behavior issues;
- Health and personal care issues;
- Any other specific issues assigned to the parenting coordinator by the court or agreed by the coparents that does not exceed the authority under this Rule.
Off Limits to the Parenting Coordinator:
A parenting coordinator shall not make recommendations as to:
- Allocation of parental responsibilities for decision making;
- Initial allocation of parental responsibilities for parenting time and any allocation of parenting time beside minor alterations in paragraph E.
- Relocation;
- Establishing visitation by a nonparent, or
- Child support, spousal maintenance, or the allocation of property or debt of the marriage;
How is the Parenting Coordinator Paid?
The parties shall pay the parenting coordinator fees, which may include a retainer fee, as ordered by the court upon consideration of the financial resources of the parties or agreed upon in writing by the parties and the parenting coordinator. If parties cannot afford to pay for a parenting coordinator, the court may appoint a parenting coordinator from the Domestic Relations Division’s approved roster at a reduced fee or pro bono basis.
Tips for Working with your Parenting Coordinator
1.Don’t spend the time telling the Parenting Coordinator everything that happened in your marriage, the divorce litigation, mediation and all the terrible things about your spouse.
2. Be prepared for your meetings. Bring an agenda if that helps you to be organized.
3. Be clear about the issues you want the Parenting Coordinator to address?
4. Prioritize the issues that are most important to your children.
5. Focus on your children’s needs.
6. The Parenting Coordinator is not your therapist.
For a consultation regarding your divorce, post-decree or other family law related matters please contact our office at (312)-640-0500 or email me at mmoran@grundlaw.com
Share on Facebook