During some family law cases, it can seem impossible to reconcile the different opinions of both parents and create a firm, consistent parenting plan. Luckily, there is aid available in Florida law that is intended to make this process easier. This assistance is referred to as parenting coordination and is specifically designed for these types of situations.
A parenting coordinator’s primary job is to “provide a child-focused alternative dispute resolution process” by helping resolve disputes between the parents and draft a parenting plan. The coordinator can also make recommendations and limited decisions within the scope of the court’s appointment.
To be considered a qualified parenting coordinator, he or she must meet several different legal requirements. If the court feels it is necessary, the presiding judge can impose additional qualifications on a case-by-case basis. However, the qualifications that must be met in all cases can be found in Florida statute 61.125:
- Meet one of the following professional requirements:
a. Be a licensed mental health professional,
b. Be a licensed physician with certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology,
c. Be certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a family law mediator, with at least a master’s degree in a mental health field or,
d. Be a member in good standing with The Florida Bar - Complete all of the following:
a. Three years of post licensure or post certification practice
b. A family mediation training program certified by the Florida Supreme Court
c. A minimum of 24 hours of parenting coordination training and a minimum of 4 hours of training in domestic violence and child abuse related to parenting coordination
In addition to these qualifications, there are also several disqualifying factors. These can also be found in the same statute. A parenting coordinator candidate cannot be appointed if they have:
- Been convicted or had adjudication withheld on a charge of child abuse, child neglect, domestic violence, parental kidnapping, or interfering with custody,
- Been found by a court in a child protection hearing to have abused, neglected, or abandoned a child,
- Consented to an adjudication or withholding of adjudication on a petition for dependency,
- Been a respondent in a final order or injunction of protection against domestic violence or,
- Been disqualified by the Parenting Coordinator Review Board
Once a parenting coordinator candidate meets all the court’s qualifications, they can now be appointed to a case. For this appointment to take place, the court or a party of the case must make a motion for the appointment of a parenting coordinator. This is typically done in cases where a parenting plan is either being adopted, established, or modified. It is important to note that in cases where domestic violence is involved, parenting coordination is not used by the court unless both parties provide free and voluntary consent to speak with a coordinator. This is often because there is a concern for safety between the two parties, as well as considerations for legal actions such as a restraining order.
Once appointed, the parenting coordinator can now confidentially communicate between the parties regarding their parenting plan. This confidentiality may not be broken except in very specific circumstances. One such circumstance is when an emergency situation develops. If the parenting coordinator has reasonable cause to believe that a child is at risk of suffering abuse or someone is about to wrongfully remove the child from the court’s jurisdiction, the coordinator must immediately inform the court via affidavit.
If you wish to establish or alter a parenting plan and believe a parenting coordinator may be necessary, you will need an experienced family law attorney who can navigate the proper channels to make that happen for you. Call Hendry & Parker, P.A, in downtown Dunedin or Clearwater, at (727) 205-5555 today for a free consultation serving Pinellas, Pasco & Hillsborough Counties.