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Denver Parenting Coordinator / Decision Maker Services

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Parenting Coordinator / Decision Maker Services

Quick Responses to Your Family's Needs

Quick resolve to disagreements, often as fast as 10 business days! Waiting for resolve is a thing of the past.

A Parenting Coordinator / Decision Maker (PC / DM) assists with turning disagreements into productive conversations and uses strategies resulting in solutions to unresolved issues..

If you choose to utilize the arbitration role, we work with all parties to resolve any dispute regarding the kids. Including money issues.

Stop living in limbo for your children’s sake.

The parenting coordinator is facilitative, and immersive, attempting to understand the issues, family dynamics, and needs of the children. This process guides the parties in coming to a consensus on all items regarding implementing the parenting plan. Typically, the parenting coordinator will see opportunities regarding communication styles between the parents and strive to assist with those issues.

Our rate is $90/hour per party. Deposit is $800. Fees may be allocated based on many factors.

In the role of PC/DM, our job is to resolve issues between the parents to gain consensus. The PC / DM role is to facilitate the parties to discuss and settle agreements. If the parties still cannot agree, the next phase, the decision-making role begins.

The most important concept to understand is the overwhelming reliance on the parenting coordinator’s role to uphold the best interests of the child (BIOTC).

The best part of the PC/DM role with SB Mediation Center. We are an attentive, resolution focused PC/DM firm that is understanding that your disputes are very difficult for your children.

Is The PC / DM Appointed Or Can We Choose One?

A PC/DM may be appointed through a few different methods.

* The first method is agreeing to appoint a PC / DM. Agreeing to a Parenting Coordinator / Decision Maker to help resolve issues after your divorce can save you time, money, and emotional stress for everyone involved.

* The second method is when each party proposes to the courts recommending three candidates to help ensure neutrality, and then a judge appoints the PC/DM.

The Reasons For Considering A Parenting Coordinator Are:

  • Mediation is not appropriate for the case
  • Mediation has been unsuccessful in the past
  • There may be communication issues between the parents
  • There may be a history of domestic violence, substance abuse, excessive litigation not leading to resolution, or mental health issues

 

The Main Objectives Of The Parenting Coordinator Are:

  • Attempt to reduce conflict and chronic litigation between the parties
  • Help parents implement their parenting plan

Because of neutrality, our office staff can answer any questions you may have regarding a parenting coordinator, decision-maker, or a combination of both through a phone call or email. We are happy to help.

The Process Of Parenting Coordinator / Decision Maker

At the beginning of the court appointment, we have a meeting with each party separately to go over the ground rules of our role. At this time we will answer any questions about our role and provisions in the agreement.

What to expect:

couple talking to a male parenting coordinator

Parenting Plan Implementation Tools Include:

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Parenting Education

Parenting education is an additional component of coordination. Much of this work revolves around communication between the parents.

The coordinator may partner with other collateral professionals involved with the children and parents to gather information, identify issues and problem solve with the parents.

The Role Of Decision Maker

The decision-maker role is the second half of the PC/DM role.

The role of the PC/DM has two distinct roles. The second role is the decision-making component. The decision-making component could be divided into two distinct functions of decision-making and arbitration, creating three roles in total.

This role is employed when the parties fail repeatedly to comply with the parenting coordinator’s recommendations, conflict doesn’t subside, where the parenting coordinator has been ineffective. This appointment is created to resolve parenting issues not related to finances. Finances will be addressed later in this article.

When the role of the parenting coordinator begins transitioning to a decision-maker the parties will be notified of the change.

The decision-maker’s arbitration appointment is to handle all disputes between the parties without the need for the court’s involvement.

Here is an example of parenting guidelines for the PC/DM process.

Duties Of The Decision Maker

With consent from all parties, the court may appoint an arbitrator to resolve disputes concerning minor or dependent children. Examples of disputes:

  • Including but not limited to parenting time
  • Non-recurring adjustments to child support
  • Disputed parental decisions

Both roles must be understood by the decision-maker with great care. The decision-maker is making permanent changes to the family’s lives. There must be an understanding of the statutes of the specific family dynamic, the decision-maker is attempting to remedy.

Key Points To Remember About The Parenting Coordinator / Decision-makers Role

How We Approach Confidentiality Of Your Case, Regarding Litigation.

It is a confidential process throughout. We will not speak to anyone during or after our appointment.

At the beginning of the appointment, we go over the agreement. Along with many items, confidentiality is discussed with the parties. In addition, the parties sign the agreement. Being contacted by the pro se (unrepresented) parties to break the confidentiality of the appointment of the PC/DM is understandable. It is not a negotiable provision. It is in the statutes CRS §14-10-128.1. It expressly states it is confidential. See below.

(7)(c)(I) In a judicial proceeding, administrative proceeding, or another similar proceeding between the parties to the action, a parenting coordinator shall not be competent to testify and may not be required to produce records as to any statement, conduct, or decision that occurred during the parenting coordinator’s appointment to the same extent as a judge of a court of this state acting in a judicial capacity.

For the CRS §14-10-128.3, it is this statute. (7)(c)(I) In a judicial proceeding, administrative proceeding, or another similar proceeding, a decision-maker shall not be competent to testify and may not be required to produce records as to any statement, conduct, or decision, that occurred during the decision-makers appointment, to the same extent as a judge of a court of this state acting in a judicial capacity.

The only way the PC/DM confidentiality may be broken is reporting to law enforcement or child protective services.

With that said. We are here to promote collaboration and harmony. We might not be successful every time. Having the PC/DM interview with anyone about the case is not going to help the children.

We will not speak to anyone about the case even with the agreement of the parties. It adds a level of finality and confidentiality to the PC/DM process that really promotes our process away from litigation.

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Our experience based on years of training, hard work, and passion, as well as familiarity with divorce, dividing up the marital estate and child custody/supervised parenting time issues. You’ll find all that and more at SB Mediation Center.

Please have contact information for all parties before contacting us.