When Parenting Coordinators Come Into Play
Most of the time, the services of a parenting coordinator in Okmulgee are helpful to a divorcing couple. An effective parenting coordinator can make the process of handling minor issues such as one-time visitation changes run more smoothly.
However, there are times when having a parenting coordinator appointed can make a situation worse. Sometimes, it is the appointment of any parenting coordinator that needs to be challenged. Other times, it is the appointment of a specific parenting coordinator that needs to be blocked. Your Okmulgee child custody attorney can help you understand how and when blocking the assignment of a parenting coordinator is warranted.
Each case is somewhat different. Likewise, each parenting coordinator is somewhat different. When seeking to block either a parenting coordinator appointment in general or a particular parenting coordinator, it is best to start with Oklahoma law.
High Conflict Cases Require Parenting Coordinators
In general, a parenting coordinator can only be mandatorily appointed in a high conflict case. Alternatively, a parenting coordinator can be appointed if both parents agree to it.
In high conflict cases, the court will always appoint a parenting coordinator. Thus, if you are looking to block the assignment of any parenting coordinator, one of the best places to start is to show the court that yours is not a high conflict case. The Oklahoma law defines high conflict cases as those in which there is a lot of litigation, anger and distrust, physical aggression, verbal abuse, or difficulty in communicating and cooperating.
Low Conflict Cases: Blocking the Assignment
When seeking to block the assignment of any parenting coordinator, it is best to show the parents’ patterns of effective communication, the lack of any physical aggression or abuse, the lack of any verbal abuse, and a willingness to cooperate with the other spouse in processes regarding the divorce and the care of the children. Oftentimes, physical evidence such as texts and emails can go a long way to show the court that you and your spouse can get along to work through the divorce smoothly.
The court is less likely to appoint a parenting coordinator if you can show the judge that you and your spouse can make decisions in the best interests of the children without involving the services of a third party. It also helps if you show that there hasn’t been any domestic violence or threats of violence. Blocking the assignment is often easier if you can show that you and your spouse can continually work out issues without help from a third party.
Parenting Coordinator: Unnecessary or Too Expensive
If a couple shows that they can work effectively toward the resolution of custody and other issues regarding the children, using the services of a third party may not only be unnecessary but may actually slow down the process of divorce. In that case, the court may decide not to appoint a parenting coordinator. This does not often happen among divorcing couples, but when it does, a court may decide not to interfere in a process that is already working well.
Finally, no parenting coordinator can be appointed unless the court finds that the parties have the means to pay the parenting coordinator’s fees. If the costs of appointing a parenting coordinator will be burdensome on the parents, a court is less likely to impose a parenting coordinator’s services upon the parents.
This can be a difficult argument if a couple is paying attorney’s fees and is regularly on the court’s motion calendar because they are unable to work their issues out. When seeking to block a parenting coordinator, it is helpful to talk to your family law attorney first.
Blocking the Assignment of a Particular Parenting Coordinator
Sometimes one of the parents will seek to appoint a parenting coordinator that the other parent would like to block. The reasons for this are myriad. When seeking to effectively block the appointment of a parenting coordinator, it is best to start with the disclosures that are required of a parenting coordinator.
A parenting coordinator who is being considered must disclose a resume and their entire history regarding reprimands and disciplinary actions by their licensing board. The parenting coordinator must also disclose any prior criminal convictions within the past 10 years.
Any of these can be grounds for eliminating a particular parenting coordinator. Finally, it is now required in cases involving domestic violence that the parenting coordinator have at least 16 hours of domestic violence training. If the parenting coordinator does not have the required training, it is grounds to block the assignment of that particular parenting coordinator.
Each case is different. And while most of the time it is helpful to have the services of a parenting coordinator, there are times when it may not be helpful. That may mean blocking the appointment of any parenting coordinator or blocking the appointment of a particular parenting coordinator. This is something that is often best discussed with your experienced Okmulgee divorce attorney.
Your divorce attorney can help you understand whether a parenting coordinator is right for you or whether that parenting coordinator should be blocked. If you decide to block a particular parenting coordinator, it must be done so upon a noticed motion in court. That usually means that you will need the services of your Okmulgee family law attorney to prepare you and get you through the hearing.
Low-cost Consultation with an Okmulgee Family Law Attorney
If you’d like a confidential, initial consultation with a family law attorney from Wirth Law Office – Okmulgee, call (918) 756-9600 or toll-free (888) Wirth-Law now. You can also enter your legal question or concern in the form at the top right of this page, and one of our attorneys will email or call you.
