Parenting Coordination

Information for Parents, Parenting Coordinators, Attorneys, and Judges About Parenting Coordination in Florida

Parenting coordination is a non-adversarial dispute resolution process that is court ordered or agreed upon by the parties.  The purpose of parenting coordination is to provide a child-focused process in which a parenting coordinator assists parents in creating or implementing a parenting plan by facilitating the resolution of disputes between the parents by providing education, making recommendations, and, with the prior approval of the parents and the court, making limited decisions within the scope of the court’s order of referral.

In any action in which a judgment or order has been sought or entered adopting, establishing, or modifying a parenting plan, except for a domestic violence proceeding under chapter 741, and upon agreement of the parties, or a motion, the court may appoint a parenting coordinator and refer the parties to parenting coordination to assist in the resolution of disputes concerning their parenting plan.

To implement the use of parenting coordinators in family law proceedings, the Florida Supreme Court adopted Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.742 (Parenting Coordination), and the following Family Law Forms:  Order of Referral to Parenting Coordination, Response by Parenting Coordinator, Parenting Coordinator Report of Emergency, and Request for Status Conference.

Parenting coordinators are subject to ethical standards and a discipline process under the Rules for Qualified and Court-Appointed Parenting Coordinators.  In 2016, the Court established the Parenting Coordinator Review Board to perform investigations and adjudications of grievances filed against parenting coordinators. 

The flowchart below regarding the court appointment of a qualified parenting coordinator, the parenting coordinator’s authority, parenting coordinator communications with the court and hearings, and the confidentiality of the process is designed as an aid to understanding the parenting coordination process.