The Role of a Parenting Coordinator Decision Maker in Parental Disputes
In the often challenging world of co-parenting, the presence of a neutral mediator or decision-maker can prove invaluable. A professional can serve as a Parenting Coordinator (PC), a Decision Maker (DM), or can act in both capacities (PCDM).
A PC, DM or PCDM serves as a neutral third party, stepping in to assist parents when they face challenges related to coparenting their children. The intervention of the neutral professional aims to smoothen the process and ensure that the best interests of the children are always kept at the forefront. Typically, a PCDM is appointed for a tenure of two years.
The Parenting Coordinator primarily acts as a mediator. The PC’s primary objective is to facilitate conversations between the parents and assist them in following their parenting plan or in reaching decisions for their children. This can encompass a wide range of tasks such as guiding the parents towards resources, developing guidelines for communication and pinpointing the root causes of disputes. It's crucial to understand that a Parenting Coordinator does not have the power to enforce any decisions. A PC can be appointed by agreement of the parties or upon the order of the court, over the objection of one or both parties.
On the other hand, a Decision Maker wields more authority and steps into the role of the judge. A DM’s task is to make decisions in the child's best interests when the parents are unable to do so. This role is especially beneficial in high-conflict scenarios where parents find it nearly impossible to reach common ground. However, there's a catch. A DM can only be appointed if both parties are in agreement. The parents must also agree upon the specific areas the DM will have authority to decide. A DM’s authority may include issues related to a parent’s time with their children and making the final decision when parents cannot agree upon things such as choice of schools, choice of doctors and participation in sports and extracurricular activities. A DM’s decisions are binding and filed with the court to become enforceable court orders.
Lastly, if the parents agree, one neutral professional can serve both roles and is called a Parenting Coordinator / Decision Maker (PCDM). Typically, in this capacity, the PCDM first attempts to mediate a dispute. Then, if mediation proves unsuccessful, the PCDM moves into the decision maker role. Again, the terms of the parties’ agreement will dictate the process.
Navigating the ups and downs of coparenting disagreements can be overwhelming and emotionally draining. Thankfully, there are resources for coparents who need additional support. With a neutral professional such as a PC, DM or PCDM in place, the parties are better positioned to navigate parenting disputes with little to no court involvement and work toward a common goal of achieving peace for their families.