Child Custody and Parenting Coordination
Posted on Jul 31, 2013 12:00am PDT
Parents in a heated divorce battle here in Georgia often find it difficult
to manage their child's care. The ensuing child custody battle also
presents unique issues, making it difficult at times to put the child's
best interests first. One emerging niche that is gaining headway is parenting
coordination, which assists parents who are going through difficult times
to manage how they coordinate the care of their child.
But this line of work also comes with its own set of misconceptions and
myths. A recent article sought to dispel the confusion and hopefully explain
what parenting coordination is. The article explained that parenting coordination
grew from the need for co-parents to resolve their disputes outside of
the courts. This service saves families the additional emotional and financial
costs that are often involved in litigation.
The first myth about parenting coordination is that the coordinator makes
all the decisions for the parents. The truth is that the scope of the
coordinator's authority is governed by statute. Also, the coordinator
can only make decisions on behalf of the parents when the parents are
unable to come to a compromise.
The second myth is that coordinators are parasitic professionals who are
only seeking financial gain from the family's struggle. While the
coordinator may charge a fee, the amount is reasonable and cheaper than
having to go through litigation. The coordinator will also allow parents
to maintain some control over their decisions in certain matters.
Parenting coordinators are not therapists. Their mandate is to help create
child-focused alternative dispute resolution, assisting parents in the
process and making limited decisions only within the scope of the court's
power. Finally, the coordinators do not have to be with the parents forever.
While they intend to build lasting relationships with clients, they are
not by any means permanently dedicated to working for them and running
their lives.