How to Get a Child Custody Agreement Instead of a Child Custody Battle
Divorce is a time when emotions run high. This is especially true when children are involved in a relationship. Sometimes, their parents treat them as pawns rather than human beings.
Child custody battles can erupt, which can be painful for everyone involved. However, that situation doesn’t have to take place. Read on to learn about how it’s possible to forge child custody agreements and avoid a protracted legal battle.
Parent Coordination
A process known as “parent coordination” can help families sidestep legal wrangling over child custody. Parent coordination is a dispute resolution process. The court appoints a parenting coordinator (PC), or a PC may be appointed by private consent.
The PC has two roles. The first role is to educate the parents on the importance of communicating and how damaging it is to expose their children to unresolved and unhealthy conflict. A PC’s second role is to help the parents develop strategies to effectively manage conflict and parenting to raise healthy, well-adjusted children.
When Is Parent Coordination Utilized?
A judge or the parents might decide that a PC should be brought in if several circumstances take place: mediation isn’t successful or appropriate; parents need help developing or implementing a parenting plan; child custody agreements aren’t being adhered to; or there are complex issues at stake.
Parent coordination isn’t an appropriate tool to use if it would compromise the safety of one of the parents. That might be the case if abuse is taking place, or if one of the parents is mentally ill or has substance abuse problems.
Who Are PCs?
PCs are professionals with specialized psychological and legal knowledge. They are experienced in dealing with cases of high-conflict separation and divorce. Many times, PCs know how to mediate and are trained in parent coordination.
Some jurisdictions require that PCs be licensed mental health professionals, psychologists or attorneys. In some places, PCs must be certified family mediators. The jurisdiction may also require a PC to have a certain number of years worth of experience working with high-conflict families.
The appointed PC should not have any conflict of interest, meaning that he or she should never have worked with the family before or been involved with it in any way. He or she can also not work with the family in any way in the future, either. Impartiality ensures that the PC works in the best interest of the children.
Fine & Associates: Your Experts in Family and Divorce Law
Are you engaged in a battle over child custody agreements? Call Fine & Associates today at (416) 650-1300. Our team of experienced legal professionals are here to help you to arrive at an agreement which puts the interests of your children first.
We know how difficult divorce is, and the family and divorce lawyers at Fine & Associates are here for you every step of the way. We’ll answer any questions you have about the legal processes surrounding child custody. The lawyers at Fine & Associates treat clients with the respect, professionalism and courtesy they deserve.