Three tiers of parent coordnator services
Tier One: Parent Coordinator Consultant
At the most informal level, a Parent Coordinator acts as a consultant, offering guidance and suggestions to help parents resolve disputes on their own.
How it Works: The Parent Coordinator provides expert advice, tools, and strategies to facilitate better communication and collaboration.
Goal: Empower parents to reach their own decisions in a constructive and amicable manner.
Best For: Parents who are open to cooperation but need occasional support in resolving specific issues.
Tier Two: Parent Coordinator Coach
A step up from the consultant role, a Parent Coordinator Coach not only works with parents to help them reach an agreement but also has the authority to issue a decision if the parents cannot agree.
How it Works:
The Coach actively facilitates discussions and mediates disputes.
If parents are unable to resolve the issue, the Coach will issue a binding decision.
These decisions can be reviewed by the Court under what is known as de novo review, meaning the Court can revisit the issue from the beginning without deferring to the Parent Coordinator’s decision.
Goal: Provide resolution while still allowing for Court oversight if necessary.
Best For: Parents who need additional structure and guidance but want the reassurance that decisions can be reviewed by the Court if either party disagrees.
Tier 3: Parent Coordinator with Arbitral authority
The most formal and decisive level of service involves a Parent Coordinator with arbitral authority. This level is ideal for parents seeking to minimize the potential for ongoing litigation and ensure stability in their co-parenting arrangements.
How it Works:
The Parent Coordinator has the authority to make binding and more final decisions on parenting disputes.
Although these decisions can be reviewed by the Court, the grounds for overturning or modifying them are significantly more limited than in the coaching level.
Goal: Provide a higher level of assurance and finality in decision-making, reducing the likelihood of continued litigation.
Best For: Parents who want a decisive resolution to disputes, prefer to avoid prolonged litigation, and need a structured, authoritative approach to ensure stability and consistency in their co-parenting arrangements
