Parenting Coordination

Parenting coordination is a process in which parents work with a neutral third party to reduce the potential effects of conflict on their child. A parent coordinator is a neutral party because he or she does not represent, advocate for, or advise either party in their divorce or child custody case.

A parent coordinator may be hired by the parties or appointed by the court. If you believe your family could benefit from the services of a parenting coordinator, contact me to discuss your needs and have your questions answered.

What Does a Parenting Coordinator Do?

In a nutshell, a parenting coordinator supports parents in making decisions that are best for their child and putting those decisions into action. When providing parent coordination services, I work with the parties to:

• Develop an agreed-upon plan for custody and visitation if there is no existing agreement or court order
• Resolve disputes about the interpretation of, and compliance with, the order, and make any joint recommendations to the court for any changes to the order
• Educate parents about making and implementing decisions that are in the best interest of the child
• Develop guidelines for appropriate communication between parents
• Suggest helpful resources for the family
• Modify patterns of behavior and develop parenting strategies to manage and reduce opportunities for conflict in order to reduce the impact of any conflict upon their child
• Decide post-judgment disputes by making minor, temporary modifications to child access provisions ordered by the court if:
  • The judgment or post-judgment order of the court authorizes such decision making, and
  • The parties have agreed in writing or on the record that the post-judgment parenting coordinator may do so.

As a parent coordinator, I can testify in court as a fact witness and produce documents, in response to a subpoena. Parent coordination is an opportunity for families to resolve conflict and learn or improve upon co-parenting skills, with the potential for avoiding future or further contested custody litigation.

Work with an Effective Maryland Parenting Coordinator

Parenting coordination is one of the many services I offer Maryland families. I have been a family law attorney since 2002 and have helped many families navigate the challenges of family transitions. In fact, I often refer to myself as a “life changes attorney” because my priority is making my clients’ lives easier as they move through these major changes.