Parenting Coordinators are neutral parties, usually mental health professionals or lawyers, who work with both parents together to resolve parenting disputes, and assist parents in improving communication on issues related to their children. Parenting Coordinators can interpret court orders and the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines, handle parenting issues not addressed in court orders, and navigate day-to-day parenting issues regarding children. By using a parenting coordinator parents can resolve issues quickly and more economically then going through the litigation process.
PCs typically require an initial meeting with the parents where issues are discussed and guidelines determined. Most PCs required the parties to pay a retainer and charge an hourly rate for services that generally range from $75.00 per hour to $200.00 per hour. Depending on the situation, the PC may elect to conduct additional sessions with the parents or proceed via email and phone conferences. All participates will agree upon the method of future contact and communication.
Generally parenting coordinators have authority to determine time sharing arrangements; daily routines; daycare/babysitting; transportation and exchange of children; medical; dental and vision care, psychological counseling, testing and other assessment of children; extracurricular activities and arrangements; education, including but not limited to school choice, tutoring, participation in special education programs and discipline. PCs typically cannot change legal or physical custody, make relocation decisions, or substantially alter existing parenting time schedules. PCs cannot change child support orders.
PCs are quite successful in highly contentious cases where the parents disagree on many small issues- changing the parenting time, extracurricular activities, pick up and drop off places and times, contact with significant others, etc. Parenting Coordinators can make instant decisions and often at a reduced fee then if the parents used their attorneys to resolve the issues. |
