It’s common for divorcing spouses to have difficulty coming to terms with having to split up their time with their kids. Custody is one factor, aside from alimony, property division and child support discussions that can hold up a divorce. It’s if you two seem unable to work out an amenable solution between the two of you that your attorney may recommend that you bring in a parenting coordinator to help you resolve your differences to move forward.
Parenting coordinators are much like divorce mediation attorneys in that they’re impartial third parties. Both types of professionals have an obligation to listen to both you and your spouse’s or parent’s concerns.
A mediator’s goal, however, is to keep your conversation on track, serve as a referee if there’s a shift in focus and guide you both toward a compromise. Generally, couples can pull out of the conversation before resolving their disputes without any penalties. Agreements only become legally-binding once a judge signs off on them.
The role of a parenting coordinator is a bit different from that of a mediator. A court may appoint one to a custody case, or parents may bring one into the case on their own. A judge may bring a parenting coordinator into the picture in high-conflict situations where it seems that neither party can agree, and there’s a strong potential for one or both parents to request repeated modifications to court orders.
Parenting coordinators are responsible for helping parents reach an agreement about their legal obligations to their kids. If they’re unable or unwilling to do so, coordinators have the legal standing to step in and make some decisions.
You don’t have to go to court to resolve any disagreements with your ex or child’s other parent. You can, instead, sort out many of these issues outside the courtroom with a mediator’s help. A divorce mediation attorney here in Fort Myers can help you decide whether you’re ready for a new approach to resolving your differences and help you get your life back on track once again.
