Parenting Coordination FAQ
The new Parenting Coordination guidelines issued in September 2023 by the New Jersey State Supreme Court have raised many questions. South Jersey Divorce Solutions provides parenting coordination services under the New Jersey Parenting Coordinator Program. Could a parenting coordinator help you and your child’s other parent reach agreements to better serve your family? Browse these FAQs to learn more. Then, contact South Jersey Divorce Solutions to schedule a consultation.
When Would We Need a Parenting Coordinator?
Parenting Coordinators can be valuable when conflict between parents is high, and they constantly rely on the court system to address parenting issues. This can be particularly useful when parents need help communicating effectively about child rearing and when there is a pattern of frequent litigation. Additionally, it may be beneficial for parents who have personality issues that hinder their ability to collaborate, such as suspiciousness, rigidity, emotional instability, or substance abuse. Parenting Coordination can also be utilized alongside supervised visitation.
Does the Court Appoint Parenting Coordinators?
When parents who are no longer together have ongoing disagreements about their child or frequently use court resources to resolve issues related to their child, a court may appoint a Parenting Coordinator. The aim is to reduce costs for the parents by having them share the expenses of the Parenting Coordinator instead of repeatedly filing motions for minor parenting time issues. In some cases, the court will appoint a parenting coordinator and Guardian Ad litem to work with parents.
Can I Ask for a Parenting Coordinator to Work with My Family?
Parents may petition the court to assign a Parenting Coordinator or approve one they both choose together. The court must verify the coordinator’s credentials and approve their appointment.
Does a Parenting Coordinator Receive Special Training?
Parenting coordinators in New Jersey must complete at least 40 hours of classroom training covering basic mediation skills, family and child development, high-conflict family situations, domestic violence, the psychology of divorce, and related topics. They must also complete at least four hours of annual continuing education. Melissa Fecak, Esq., is a trained and certified New Jersey Parenting Coordinator in Merchantville and Camden County.
What Can a Parenting Coordinator Help Parents Do?
Coordinators play a supportive role by assisting parents in making recommendations for parenting decisions. These decisions may include arrangements for pick-up and drop-off, vacation time, travel, and various other minor issues that parents may have difficulty agreeing on. Other issues they help with include:
- Time, place, and manner of picking up and dropping off children
- Childcare arrangements
- Minor or temporary alterations in parenting schedules
- Phone or other contacts when children are at other households
- Selection and scheduling children’s extracurricular activities
- Ensuring both parties’ rights when a child needs medical, psychological, social, education, or other evaluations
- Moving children’s possessions between households
- Facilitating educational choices
- Working to fill gaps in parenting time scheduling
- Facilitating information exchanges
- Facilitating decisions about religious education and activities
- Facilitating changes in the child’s appearance
Your parenting coordinator can also help your family make decisions about other issues you decide on or as ordered by the court.
Can a Parenting Coordinator Issue Binding Orders?
Under the new 2023 guidelines, parenting coordinators cannot arbitrarily make temporary custody changes or issue binding orders, except in select court-approved cases. Recommendations by your parenting coordinator may become binding when approved by the court. Parenting coordinators do not replace judges or courts but serve as a tool for the courts and parents.
Can I Disagree with a Parenting Coordinator’s Recommendations?
Yes, but your objection must be officially filed with the court for resolution. You cannot ignore recommendations if you disagree with them.
Must I Surrender My Parental Rights to a Parenting Coordinator?
Absolutely not. One of the primary roles of a neutral third-party parenting coordinator is to help ensure both parents’ rights are upheld and do not violate the child’s best interests. The coordinator helps both parents resolve differences and make workable agreements for parenting their child(ren).
Certified New Jersey Parenting Coordinator Attorney
Could a parenting coordinator improve your family’s decision-making? Has the court recommended a parenting coordinator in your case? Do you have more questions? Call (856) 733-0229 or contact us online to schedule a confidential consultation with Melissa Fecak, Esq., a trained and certified New Jersey Parenting Coordinator in Merchantville and Camden County.