Parenting Coordination is a process where an impartial third party, usually a mental health professional or trained mediator, designated by a Court order of appointment or by contractual agreement by both litigating parties, implement their parenting plan by facilitating the resolution of disputes between parents, providing parenting and communication skill education, making recommendations on what may be in the best interest of their children, and, with approval of the Court and the parties may make arbitrated decisions.

Parent Coordinators may assist the parents by: providing education regarding the developmental needs of children; the effects of parental separation and/or conflict on the family members; and, co-parenting strategies. The Parent Coordinator uses conciliation skills to assist the parties in resolving child related issues and reducing the potential for future parental conflict.

Parenting Coordination may help high conflict families resolve their disputes out of Court, thereby reducing the excessive use of and cost of litigation. It serves as an alternative dispute resolution process when high conflict cases with child related issues were not amendable to mediation. The process expedites (when compared to litigation) dispute resolution so that animosity does not linger and cause greater conflict. Through appropriate education, it has the potential to help families survive conflict with a more intact family unit, even if separated, reducing the conflict which seriously jeopardizes the well-being of children.

The Court generally considers the appointment of a Parent Coordinator when families have failed to adequately implement their shared parenting plan, mediation has not been successful or is not appropriate, or the Court finds the appointment of a Parent Coordinator is a necessary to protect the children from harm caused by the parents failure to implement the parenting plan. The Court also expects attorneys to stand back and let the process function and to encourage clients to actively engage in the process.

The Parent Coordinator is NOT a custody evaluator (although reports to the Court on parents progress and cooperation can be appropriate); a mediator, a therapist for any of the parties, including the children; a financial advisor, attorney or guardian ad litem. Parenting Coordination is NOT for cases in which it has been determined that the process may compromise the safety of any party, the minor children, or the parenting coordinator.