The vast majority of divorced parents get along splendidly and can cooperate in the raising of their children, or at least reach a non-confrontational middle-ground. For some, however, getting along can be a challenge. It takes two people to be respectful to one another, but it takes only one person to cause a conflict. Sometimes the conflict is justified and the product of differing opinions or feelings on important issues, but other times it is fueled by reactive emotions or hurt feelings.
The court system is simply not designed to efficiently help parties that cannot get along or agree on how to co-parent their children. As a result, a few years ago, the Florida legislature codified law regarding Parent Coordinators. The purpose of a Parent Coordinator is to facilitate dispute resolution between parents by educating and making recommendations. A Parent Coordinator must be a mental health professional, a licensed physician, or a lawyer. Most parent coordinators in Collier County are mental health professionals. A Parent Coordinator also must complete a mandated training course. The court must appoint someone to the role of a Parent Coordinator, either by the agreement of the parties or upon motion and a hearing.
The Parent Coordinator does not represent either parent; rather they are a neutral third party. This allows them to speak directly to both parents when they are involved in trying to resolve a dispute. The court may also give them the right to speak to the children, if necessary, to assist the parents in working out an issue. Most often, the parents already have a Parenting Plan in place, and the Parent Coordinator is specifically tasked with assisting them carry out the terms in the Parenting Plan and resolving any complications or difficulties that arise. Further, all communications with the Parent Coordinator are confidential.
In our experience, the success of parent coordination depends highly on the willingness of the parents. If everyone buys-in and accepts the advice, information, and counsel of the parent coordinator with the goal toward solving the problems and avoiding future conflict, then the process of parent coordination can be very successful.
These types of parents will likely find that their need for use of the Parent Coordinator will lessen over time and eventually end. Of course, at the other end of the spectrum are those that refuse to buy-in to the system. There certainly will be some extremely high conflict cases that cannot improve even with the best efforts of the best Parent Coordinator.
Study after study has shown that children will be negatively affected by continued and constant conflict between their parents after a divorce. A Parent Coordinator is one more potential tool for reducing conflict, and therefore improves the lives of both parents and children.
TECHNOLOGY TO HELP YOU CO-PARENT
TalkingParents is an app that offers co-parents secure and accountable tools, such as Accountable Calling, Accountable Payments, Secure Messaging, and Shared Calendar. Plus, all of the actions taken in the app are recorded, and those records are unalterable.
After you download the app, you will create an ac-count, and then either be matched with your co-parent, or they are sent a match request. Then TalkingParents will help you manage custody schedules and appointments, keep track of expenses and payments, create a file with impor-tant information like allergies and day care hours, and mes-sage securely with your co-parent.
visit Visit www.talkingparents.com.
Article provided by: Coleman, Hazzard, Taylor, Klaus, Doupé, & Diaz, Attorneys at Law, is a Naples Civil Litigation, Business, Marital and Family Law firm with deep roots in Naples, FL and an active practice throughout Southwest Florida.