Article Summary
When parents separate or divorce, ongoing conflicts about parenting decisions can significantly impact children's wellbeing. Parenting coordination is an alternative dispute resolution process that combines mediation, arbitration, counseling, and education to help reduce family conflict. However, in Alberta, this intervention is unregulated, creating potential risks alongside its benefits. This article explores what parenting coordination involves, its advantages, limitations in the Alberta context, and important considerations before engaging this service.
Tags:
Family
Parenting
Divorce
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Understanding Parenting Coordination
Parenting coordination is a child-focused dispute resolution process designed specifically for high-conflict separated or divorced parents. When a family breaks up, the transition can be exceptionally challenging, particularly when one parent attempts to alienate the other from maintaining a relationship with the children. In such situations, parenting coordination offers an alternative to repeated court appearances for resolving ongoing disputes.
A parenting coordinator is a professional who works with parents to implement their parenting plan or court order, resolve disputes about their children, and improve communication between co-parents. The parenting coordinator employs various techniques, including:
Mediation to help parents reach agreements
Arbitration to make decisions when parents cannot agree
Counseling to address emotional barriers to effective co-parenting
Education about child development and co-parenting strategies
The ultimate goal is to decrease the level of conflict between parents, which research consistently shows benefits children's adjustment and wellbeing after separation or divorce.
The Benefits of Parenting Coordination
When properly implemented, parenting coordination can offer significant advantages:
First, it provides timely conflict resolution. Rather than waiting weeks or months for a court date, parents can address disputes as they arise, reducing the time children spend exposed to parental conflict.
Second, it offers cost efficiency compared to litigation. While parenting coordination services require payment, they typically cost less than repeated court appearances with legal representation.
Third, it creates consistency in decision-making. Having the same parenting coordinator address multiple issues over time allows for consistent application of parenting principles and better understanding of the family's unique dynamics.
Additionally, it improves parental communication. Parenting coordinators teach and model effective communication strategies, helping parents develop skills that can reduce future conflicts.
Finally, it keeps children out of the middle of parental disputes. By providing a neutral third party to resolve disagreements, children are protected from being messengers or taking sides between parents.
The Alberta Context: Lack of Regulation
Despite its potential benefits, parenting coordination in Alberta faces a significant limitation: it is not regulated by any professional body or government agency. This lack of regulation means:
No standardized training or certification requirements exist
No formal oversight or complaint mechanism is available
No established ethical guidelines or standards of practice are mandated
No consistent approach to parenting coordination services across providers
This regulatory gap creates potential risks for families engaging parenting coordination services, as there are no guaranteed standards for practitioner qualifications or service quality. While many courts and lawyers support using parenting coordination, families must exercise additional caution when selecting a provider.
Important Considerations Before Engaging a Parenting Coordinator
Given the unregulated nature of parenting coordination in Alberta, families should take several precautionary steps before proceeding:
Carefully vet potential parenting coordinators. Ask about their professional background, specific training in parenting coordination, experience with high-conflict families, and approach to resolving disputes. Request their resume outlining relevant experience and qualifications.
Understand their decision-making authority. Clarify what types of decisions the parenting coordinator will have authority to make and under what circumstances. This should be explicitly outlined in the parenting coordination agreement.
Review the proposed agreement thoroughly. The parenting coordination agreement will establish the parameters of the service, including fees, term length, scope of authority, and termination conditions. Have your lawyer review this agreement before signing.
Consider compatibility with your specific needs. Different parenting coordinators may have varying approaches and areas of expertise. Ensure the professional you select has experience with the particular challenges your family faces.
Clarify fee structures upfront. Understand how the parenting coordinator charges for services, how costs will be divided between parents, and what happens if one parent cannot or will not pay their portion.
When Parenting Coordination May Be Appropriate
Parenting coordination is not suitable for every separated family. It is typically most beneficial in situations where:
Parents have a high level of ongoing conflict about parenting decisions
Children are being negatively affected by parental conflict
Parents have been unable to resolve disputes through mediation alone
The family has had repeated court appearances for parenting issues
Both parents are willing to participate in the process
Both parents can afford the service
Parenting coordination may not be appropriate in cases involving family violence, substance abuse issues, or severe mental health concerns that would compromise a parent's ability to engage meaningfully in the process.
Legal Status of Parenting Coordination Decisions
The legal weight of decisions made by parenting coordinators varies based on how the service is established:
When ordered by a court, decisions may have immediate enforceability, similar to other court orders. When engaged through private agreement, enforceability depends on the terms of the parenting coordination agreement and may require converting decisions to court orders for full enforcement.
In either case, the unregulated nature of parenting coordination in Alberta can create uncertainty about the legal status of decisions. Your family lawyer can provide guidance specific to your situation.
Making an Informed Decision
Parenting coordination can be a valuable resource for reducing conflict and improving co-parenting after separation or divorce. However, in Alberta's unregulated environment, families must approach this option with careful consideration and due diligence.
The Calgary Legal Team has experience with parenting coordination matters and can help you assess whether this approach is appropriate for your situation. We can assist in reviewing proposed parenting coordination agreements, understanding the legal implications, and making informed decisions about engaging these services.
If you are considering parenting coordination or need guidance on other approaches to resolving co-parenting conflicts, contact us for a consultation tailored to your family's specific circumstances.
