How Do I Hire a Parenting Coordinator?: Difference between revisions

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==Who should hire a parenting coordinator?==
==Who should hire a parenting coordinator?==


Parenting coordinators aren't for everyone. The vast majority of separating parents have no need for a parenting coordinator; parenting coordinators are for those few couples who found themselves fighting before litigation started, fighting as the litigation wound to trial, fighting during the trial and fighting long after the trial. For these parents, no conflict is too small to argue about and the conflicts seem endless. These are the parents who would benefit most from parenting coordination.
A parenting coordinator can be helpful for families in which the parents have a history of high conflict, repetitive disagreements on parenting decisions, and/or the inability to cooperate on guardianship issues. Most separating parents do not need a parenting coordinator if they have a demonstrated ability to solve parenting disputes by agreement.
 
Parents who find themselves in court frequently asking a judge to make ordinary parenting decisions are the parents who would benefit most from parenting coordination.
 
A parenting coordinator may be engaged by agreement or by order of the court and can be given authority to make specific classes of parenting decisions if the parents cannot agree. In addition, a parenting coordinator can be given authority to settle specific questions (for example, choice of school) or to resolve disputes about section 7 expenses. (See the chapter [[Child Support Guidelines]] to learn what section 7 expenses are.)


==When should you hire a parenting coordinator?==
==When should you hire a parenting coordinator?==


At present, parenting coordinators trained through the BC Parenting Coordinators Roster Society are only available when there is a final parenting arrangement in place as a result of a final order or a separation agreement.
Under the current law, a parenting coordinator can only be appointed when there is a parenting plan in place as an order of the court, or which is included in a written agreement of the parties.  


Parenting coordinators do not make fundamental changes to a parenting arrangement. While they can and <span class="noglossary">will</span> adjust an access schedule from time, they can't decide that a child <span class="noglossary">will</span> live with a different parent and they usually won't make long-lasting changes to a schedule of parenting time or contact. Parenting coordinators need a framework to work with, whether the framework is provided by a court order or an agreement.
Parenting coordinators cannot make fundamental changes to a parenting arrangement, such as guardianship terms, residency, or significant changes to the parenting schedule. A parenting coordinator can make adjustments to the parenting schedule and assist with routine parenting decisions, such as extra-curricular activities, participation in special events, routine medical interventions, travel protocols, handling of child-related documents, and settlement of disputes over holidays.


Parenting coordinators <span class="noglossary">will</span> make <span class="noglossary">minor</span> adjustments to a parenting schedule as may be required from time to time, they can help resolve problems about parenting disputes and they <span class="noglossary">will</span> help the parents to communicate with each other more effectively.
Parenting coordinators can help resolve problems about parenting disputes, help parents to communicate more effectively, and coach parents to try and resolve problems themselves. If, with the parenting coordinator's help, the parents are not able to resolve a parenting dispute, the parenting coordinator has the power to make a decision for the parents on issues within the parenting coordinator's authority.


==How do you pick a parenting coordinator?==
==How do you pick a parenting coordinator?==


The website of the [http://www.bcparentingcoordinators.com BC Parenting Coordinators Roster Society] has a list of their members, sorted alphabetically but with the members identified by the location of their practice and by their profession, whether lawyer, psychologist, registered clinical counsellor, social worker or mediator, and usually with a link to the member's webpage or website.
The [http://www.bcparentingcoordinators.com BC Parenting Coordinators Roster Society] website lists members alphabetically. It tells you the location of each member's practice, their profession (whether lawyer, psychologist, registered clinical counsellor, social worker, or mediator), and usually there is a link to the member's website.
 
When you've found a few candidates that look suitable, give them each a call or send an email to inquire about availability, rates, and general approach. You may be able to arrange a preliminary meeting, but be prepared to pay the parenting coordinator’s rate for that meeting.  Some candidates offer a free initial consultation, but you should confirm this first. You aren't obliged to hire the first person you meet; wait until you've spoken to someone you feel comfortable with and who you think the other parent might listen to.
 
When talking with potential parenting coordinators, ask about:
* their current workload,
* when the parenting coordinator <span class="noglossary">will</span> be available to help,
* their hourly fees and retainer requirements, and
* the manner in which their work is done, for example: personal meetings, email, or video chat.


When you've found one or two parenting coordinators with a good location and a background you like, give them each a call and maybe arrange to meet each of them. You aren't obliged to hire the first person you meet; wait until you've spoken to someone you feel comfortable with and who you think your ex <span class="noglossary">will</span> listen to. Whatever you do, don't forget to ask the parenting coordinator about his or her current workload and when the parenting coordinator <span class="noglossary">will</span> be available to help.
Typically, the contract with a parenting coordinator is for two years and the fees are split equally between the parents, with discretion to the parenting coordinator to adjust the fees to ensure fairness and compliance with the process.


==How do you hire a parenting coordinator?==
==How do you hire a parenting coordinator?==


Picking a parenting coordinator you like is the easy part. The hard parts are:
Finding an available parenting coordinator is relatively easy. The common challenges are:
 
*getting the other parent to agree to try parenting coordination, and
*finding a parenting coordinator the other parent will agree to.
 
In most cases, it's helpful to suggest a list of two or three candidates, ask the other parent if they have their own list (or, out of fairness, if they would like to create one), and try to pick one that you can both agree on.


*getting your ex to agree to try parenting coordination, and
If there is no agreement on using the parenting coordination process or on whom to appoint, it will be necessary to make an application to the court and have the court decide.
*finding a parenting coordinator your ex can agree to.


As far as the first problem goes, parenting coordinators must be appointed by the parents' agreement or by a court order.
==For more information==


For the second problem, you may simply have to do some more shopping around. It may help to shift some of the burden to your ex. After suggesting your own list of two or three people, ask your ex for his or her list.
You can find more information about parenting coordination in the chapter [[Resolving Family Law Problems out of Court]].  




{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[JP Boyd]], March 24, 2013}}
{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[Trudy Hopman]], September 22, 2023}}


{{JP Boyd on Family Law Navbox|type=how}}
{{JP Boyd on Family Law Navbox|type=how}}


[[Category:How Do I?|H]]
[[Category:Hwlpful Guides & Common Questions|H]]
[[Category:Alternatives to Court]]
[[Category:Alternatives to Court]]
[[Category:JP Boyd on Family Law]]


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  {{Creative Commons for JP Boyd}}

Latest revision as of 21:51, 17 January 2024

Who should hire a parenting coordinator?[edit]

A parenting coordinator can be helpful for families in which the parents have a history of high conflict, repetitive disagreements on parenting decisions, and/or the inability to cooperate on guardianship issues. Most separating parents do not need a parenting coordinator if they have a demonstrated ability to solve parenting disputes by agreement.

Parents who find themselves in court frequently asking a judge to make ordinary parenting decisions are the parents who would benefit most from parenting coordination.

A parenting coordinator may be engaged by agreement or by order of the court and can be given authority to make specific classes of parenting decisions if the parents cannot agree. In addition, a parenting coordinator can be given authority to settle specific questions (for example, choice of school) or to resolve disputes about section 7 expenses. (See the chapter Child Support Guidelines to learn what section 7 expenses are.)

When should you hire a parenting coordinator?[edit]

Under the current law, a parenting coordinator can only be appointed when there is a parenting plan in place as an order of the court, or which is included in a written agreement of the parties.

Parenting coordinators cannot make fundamental changes to a parenting arrangement, such as guardianship terms, residency, or significant changes to the parenting schedule. A parenting coordinator can make adjustments to the parenting schedule and assist with routine parenting decisions, such as extra-curricular activities, participation in special events, routine medical interventions, travel protocols, handling of child-related documents, and settlement of disputes over holidays.

Parenting coordinators can help resolve problems about parenting disputes, help parents to communicate more effectively, and coach parents to try and resolve problems themselves. If, with the parenting coordinator's help, the parents are not able to resolve a parenting dispute, the parenting coordinator has the power to make a decision for the parents on issues within the parenting coordinator's authority.

How do you pick a parenting coordinator?[edit]

The BC Parenting Coordinators Roster Society website lists members alphabetically. It tells you the location of each member's practice, their profession (whether lawyer, psychologist, registered clinical counsellor, social worker, or mediator), and usually there is a link to the member's website.

When you've found a few candidates that look suitable, give them each a call or send an email to inquire about availability, rates, and general approach. You may be able to arrange a preliminary meeting, but be prepared to pay the parenting coordinator’s rate for that meeting. Some candidates offer a free initial consultation, but you should confirm this first. You aren't obliged to hire the first person you meet; wait until you've spoken to someone you feel comfortable with and who you think the other parent might listen to.

When talking with potential parenting coordinators, ask about:

  • their current workload,
  • when the parenting coordinator will be available to help,
  • their hourly fees and retainer requirements, and
  • the manner in which their work is done, for example: personal meetings, email, or video chat.

Typically, the contract with a parenting coordinator is for two years and the fees are split equally between the parents, with discretion to the parenting coordinator to adjust the fees to ensure fairness and compliance with the process.

How do you hire a parenting coordinator?[edit]

Finding an available parenting coordinator is relatively easy. The common challenges are:

  • getting the other parent to agree to try parenting coordination, and
  • finding a parenting coordinator the other parent will agree to.

In most cases, it's helpful to suggest a list of two or three candidates, ask the other parent if they have their own list (or, out of fairness, if they would like to create one), and try to pick one that you can both agree on.

If there is no agreement on using the parenting coordination process or on whom to appoint, it will be necessary to make an application to the court and have the court decide.

For more information[edit]

You can find more information about parenting coordination in the chapter Resolving Family Law Problems out of Court.


This information applies to British Columbia, Canada. Last reviewed for legal accuracy by Trudy Hopman, September 22, 2023.



JP Boyd on Family Law © John-Paul Boyd and Courthouse Libraries BC is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 Canada Licence.