If you’re in the middle of a high-conflict divorce, the court may appoint a parenting coordinator to work with you and your spouse.
If that happens in your case, don’t worry – your Chapel Hill divorce lawyer can help you understand how you’ll work together in your kids’ best interests.
What Can a Parenting Coordinator Do for Me?
A parenting coordinator can help you and your ex reduce conflict when it comes to making decisions about your kids. While your parenting coordinator won’t decide which home your children will live in, he or she will help you come up with visitation times that meet your kids’ needs. Additionally, a parenting coordinator can make decisions regarding:
- Where kids can go with their parents
- What activities kids can do with their parents
- Non-urgent medical care options
- Temporary variation from custody orders
- Other issues that relate to the children’s best interests
Why Would a Judge Appoint a Parenting Coordinator?
When you’re in the middle of a high-conflict divorce, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s really important: your kids’ well-being. When a judge notices that you’re embroiled in a battle that includes verbal abuse, extreme anger and mistrust, physical aggression or difficulty communicating when it comes to your kids, he or she might decide that a parenting coordinator can benefit your family.
Parent coordinators are appointed to a set amount of time, and if neither parents asks for the court to extend that time, then the appointment ends. A parent coordinator can also be removed if the judge approves the removal after the agreement of both parties, or if either party or the parent coordinator makes a motion to the court and the judge approves a Parental Time Modification Order.
Not all custody cases are considered high-conflict, even if a significant amount of disagreement makes decision-making tough. If you think you might be better off working with a parenting coordinator, talk to your lawyer about your options.
Parenting Coordinators and Your Attorney
If your judge appoints a parenting coordinator to work within your case, your lawyer will make sure you understand why. It’s important that you let your attorney know the results of your meetings so that he or she can plan the rest of your case, including the preparation of important documents that involve your children.
