A parenting coordinator is useful for parents who would otherwise find themselves in court repeatedly seeking orders regarding relatively trivial disputes. Some parents simply cannot resolve any disputes amongst themselves and a parenting coordinator can act as a mediator-arbitrator. They will first attempt to facilitate an agreement (like a mediator) and if that doesn’t work, the parenting coordinator can make a binding determination (like an arbitrator).

The Parenting Coordinator cannot not make determinations in respect of:

• a change to the guardianship of a child;
• a change in the allocation of parental responsibilities;
• giving parenting time or contact with a child to a person who does not have parenting time or contact with the child;
• a substantial change to the parenting time or contact with a child;
• the relocation of a child,
• any matters excluded by the Parenting Coordinator Retainer Agreement, or by court order; or
• that which would affect the division or possession of property, or the division of family assets.

The Parenting Coordinator may provide any of the following services:

• assist with the implementation, maintenance and monitoring of an agreement, order or written decision concerning children (“Parenting Plan”);
• settle anticipated or actual conflicts in children’s scheduling;
• clarify and resolve different interpretations of or ambiguities in a Parenting Plan, and develop new provisions to address situations that were not anticipated;
• monitor children’s adjustment to a Parenting Plan;
• facilitate children’s relationship with each Parent;
• assist the parents in communicating more effectively with one another;
• facilitate the exchange of information about child(ren) and their routines;
• assist the parents in developing provisions for the transport of clothing, equipment, toys and personal possessions between the parents’ households;
• assist the parents in resolving disputes between them respecting parenting responsibilities; and
• any additional services that the parents may agree to in writing, subject to the limitations outline above.

The Parenting Coordinator may consult, meet with, or obtain information from third parties, including the parents’ lawyers, family members, third-party caregivers, teachers, counsellors, therapists, and health care professionals.

The Parenting Coordinator’s decisions in the determination-making process are binding upon the parents but subject to review by the Court. The Parenting Coordinator will deliver to the parents a written, signed statement of all determinations, including the reasons and basis for the determination.

Parenting coordinators are expensive, but it is wiser to invest in one person who can make decisions rather than both people paying their own lawyers to repeatedly go to court.