By: Christina Pashou
As a parent, you have the right to parent your child(ren) as you see fit. However, this often results in conflict, if you and your child’s other parent do not agree on certain child related matters. In high-conflict separations or divorces, parenting issues may arise with greater frequencies that continue to bring parents back to Court for resolution. Going to Court to resolve such issues is expensive and often delayed because of Court’s busy schedule. An alternate strategy to manage such disputes as they arise is through the use of a Parenting Coordinator.
A Parenting Coordinator is a neutral, third party to whom you, as a parent, can turn when a parenting or scheduling dispute arises between you and the other parent. Generally, your access to the parenting coordinator is much quicker and costs less than waiting and paying to go before a judge on the same parenting issue. In Massachusetts, you and your
Christina Pashou Esq.
child’s other parent may either agree to engage a Parenting Coordinator or the Court could order a Parenting Coordinator to address the issues more expeditiously, provided that there is a court order or judgment establishing a parenting plan, custody and/or parenting time.
The challenge in knowing when it is time to take a break from the madness and call a parenting coordinator is that most parents have a difficult time recognizing their own negative behaviors. It is easy to rationalize your behaviors in your own particular circumstances in order to justify our actions – however such actions do not help solve issues relating to your children. Instead, focusing on what is in your child’s best interest is key. A Parenting Coordinator will not only help mediate child related issues, but will guide you, to put aside your differences, to compartmentalize any adult conflicts, and focus on your child.
