Parenting Co-ordination (PC) is an ongoing dispute resolution process for parents who have a parenting plan and continue to experience intense disagreements implementing that plan. Parenting Coordination is voluntary, meaning you must agree to participate.
Caroline provides Parenting Coordination services in conjunction with an Arbitrator PC. Caroline’s work focuses on resolving disagreements and improving the coparenting relationship. When no resolution can be reached, the process moves to arbitration with the Arbitrator PC. The Parenting Coordination Agreement more thoroughly defines the two Parenting Coordinators’ roles.
Before fully engaging in PC services, you must complete a confidential intake process. The intake process enables you and the Parenting Coordinators to assess whether your family situation is appropriate for Parenting Coordination and to assess whether Parenting Coordination can be designed in a way that meets the needs and goals of each parent and your child(ren). There is a flat fee of $500 plus HST charged to each parent for the Intake Process.
Once you and the Parenting Coordinators are ready to work together, the Parenting Coordination Agreement is drafted, reviewed and signed by the parents, their lawyers and both Parenting Coordinators. The PC Agreement is a contract that lays out the scope and limits of our work, fee policies, rules about confidentiality, and it confirms the length of our term (typically 18 months to 2 years). Because of the length of our working contract, and the possible implications arising from an arbitration, all PC clients must receive legal advice about the PC Agreement from a family law lawyer before we begin services.
The detailed fee structure is clearly laid out in the PC Agreement and reviewed during intake meetings. Caroline charges an hourly rate of $300 which is shared equally between the parents unless other arrangements are set out in the PC Agreement, or if the Arbitrating PC re-apportions fees. Fees will not be negotiated with Caroline or with the Arbitrator. Once the PC Agreement is signed, each parent will be required to provide a deposit equivalent to 2 hours of Caroline’s time. Caroline will hold this deposit and will use it to pay your final invoice.
Caroline charges fees for all work done on your behalf. This includes phone calls, email reading and responding and meetings. Caroline invoices you regularly and requires prompt payment. Fees may be paid by credit card or e-transfer.
Caroline maintains electronic files. You will be asked to complete your paperwork digitally. This includes intake forms, the PC Agreement and other questionnaires abouts your conflicts and your children.
You have likely spent a long time, a lot of energy and a lot of money to obtain your final parenting plan. While being very mindful of those efforts, Caroline will spend time at the start of the PC process establishing a communication protocol, setting goals for the PC process and addressing any urgent areas of disagreement you identify.
Over the first months of the PC process, ongoing appointments help you unlearn your “battle” skills and build a neutral, child centered coparenting relationship. Caroline uses parent educational tools and mediation skills to refocus both of you on your children’s needs and coping. There may be pen and paper exercises, podcasts to listen to or videos to watch. These activities are never urgent but are always important and deserve your attention. The efforts you make to redefine your co-parenting relationship can reduce the stress and unease that your children have been experiencing. In other words, your hard work can improve your children’s wellbeing.
If you live in the Toronto area, intake meetings will be held in person. Once the PC work begins, individual or joint sessions may be held over video link such as Zoom.
There may be a time when it is helpful to have your children’s point of view included in the PC process. There is a formal process in place to hear children’s voices. This requires both parents’ and child’s consent. Caroline will provide more detail if your children’s voice is to be included in the process.
Use this link to schedule a phone consultation about Caroline's PC services.
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