Help! Our Parenting Plan Does Not Work

There are various reasons why parenting plans “don’t work”.  They vary from one parent’s refusal to follow the court’s order – yes, a parenting plan is a court order.  Another reason is that the parenting plan does not cover the situation that is now occurring.  Or, the circumstances simply have changed – new relationships, relocation, children having different needs, etc.

Ideally, parents will sit down and revisit their parenting plan when any issue arises that raises a concern for either parent.  But, the reality is that does not happen enough.

Depending on the reason why the parenting plan doesn’t work, parents may want to utilize the services of a Parenting Coordinator (“PC”).  A PC is a court appointed professional who helps parents at impasse.  The PC will try to help the parents reach an agreement as to how to resolve their concerns.  If that does not work, the PC will make a report and recommendation to the judge as to how to resolve the issue.  The judge always makes the final determination as to how to handle the issue.

I do a fair amount of PC work and I really enjoy it.  My PC clients need help and need help quickly.  It is not surprising how frequently parents agree on how to resolve a child-related issue, but only after they are required to sit down with the assistance of a PC and figure out what is in the best interest of their children.  For the occasions that parents just cannot agree – for whatever reason – having the opportunity to work with a court-appointed PC nearly immediately can help the parents avoid anxiety, avoid lengthy conflict created by the time lines imposed by the court’s backlog and the court’s rules, and help the parents simply getting to resolution more quickly.

So, before going back to court when you have a disagreement with your ex about your kids, ask yourself:  Can we sit down and figure this out?  If not, would we benefit from having the Court appoint a PC?