Co-parenting after a divorce or separation can be difficult even when both parents are trying to do the right thing. When disagreements keep coming up about schedules, school, activities, communication, or other parenting issues, those conflicts can become exhausting for everyone, including the children.
Florida parenting coordination gives some families another way to work through those disagreements. It is a child-focused process designed to help parents create or follow a parenting plan and resolve disputes without returning to court every time they cannot agree.
What Is Parenting Coordination?
Parenting coordination involves a neutral third party called a parenting coordinator. The coordinator helps parents address disagreements involving their parenting plan and can provide education and recommendations. In certain circumstances, the coordinator can also make limited decisions if the parents and court have given the coordinator that authority.
The goal is not to decide which parent is right about every disagreement. Instead, the process is intended to help parents work through recurring problems and keep the focus on their children.
A court can refer parents to parenting coordination, but parents can also agree to use the process. It may be used when a parenting plan has already been established or when the parents are working through issues involving a parenting plan.
What Does a Parenting Coordinator Actually Do?
A parenting coordinator may help parents work through practical issues that come up during co-parenting. Those issues might involve disagreements about how to follow an existing parenting plan or problems that make communication between the parents difficult.
The coordinator is not simply another person deciding who gets more time with the children. The coordinator’s role is limited by the court’s order and Florida law. That can be important for parents who are concerned about giving someone outside the courtroom too much control over their family decisions.
The process is also different from simply having another conversation with your former spouse. A qualified parenting coordinator has specific training and professional requirements under Florida law.
What If There Has Been Domestic Violence?
Parenting coordination may not be appropriate for every family. Florida law includes specific protections when there has been a history of domestic violence. If such a history exists, the court generally cannot refer the parents to parenting coordination unless both parents consent. The court must also consider appropriate safeguards for the participants.
This is an important issue to discuss with an attorney. A process that works well for parents who simply have trouble communicating may not be appropriate when there has been abuse, intimidation, or controlling behavior.
Who Pays for Parenting Coordination?
Parenting coordination has costs, and Florida law allows the court to determine how those costs will be divided between the parents. A court generally cannot require parents to participate without their consent unless it determines they have the financial ability to pay the associated fees and costs. The court must consider factors such as income, assets, liabilities, and whether the expense would create a substantial hardship.
For a family already dealing with the financial strain of divorce, this can be an important consideration.
Could Parenting Coordination Help Your Family?
Parenting coordination will not make every disagreement disappear. It can, however, give parents a structured way to deal with ongoing parenting disputes and potentially reduce the need to return to court over every issue.
If you are considering parenting coordination or have been ordered to participate, it is reasonable to have questions about how the process will work and what it means for your family.
Getting the Support You Need
If you have questions about parenting coordination or you’re struggling to make co-parenting work, we can help. Contact the Law Offices of Robert M. Geller to discuss your case.
