Parenting Coordinators

Massachusetts Parenting Coordinators

Conflict Co-Parents

When co-parents communicate well and follow their plan, a parenting coordinator (PC) is usually unnecessary. But when parents conflict and struggle to follow court orders, a PC can reduce disputes, improve parental communication, and help protect the well-being of parents and children.

What Is a Parenting Coordinator?

A Parenting Coordinator is a neutral professional who helps resolve day-to-day disputes in high conflict cases—including scheduling, exchanges, school and activity logistics, and other child-related issues. The PC’s job is to implement the details of the parenting plan while keeping the child’s best interests front and center.

Qualifications & Specific Training

Parenting Coordinators typically have a background in family law or are mental health professionals (e.g., psychologists, social workers) with specific training in mediation, child development, domestic violence screening, and the AFCC Parenting Coordination Guidelines. Many are trained to recognize dynamics common in high conflict cases, coach effective parental communication, and de-escalate disputes.

Court-Appointed or By Agreement

In Massachusetts, a PC may be court appointed or chosen by the parties and memorialized in a stipulation. The scope of the PC’s role is defined in the court orders or written agreement—what issues the PC can decide, how parents bring issues to the PC, and how recommendations become enforceable.

How Parenting Coordination Works

The process—modeled on AFCC best practices—combines assessment, education, case management, and conflict resolution. The PC helps set clear parental communication protocols (e.g., email, co-parenting apps), runs joint or individual meetings, and may confer with collateral sources such as teachers or therapists where appropriate. When parents cannot reach agreement, the PC may issue written recommendations or limited decisions consistent with the governing court orders.

Parenting Coordinator vs. Custody Evaluator

A custody evaluator conducts a formal investigation and makes recommendations to the court about legal and physical custody. A Parenting Coordinator does not replace an evaluator; instead, the PC works after orders or agreements are in place to help parents implement the plan and resolve everyday disputes. In some matters, the PC may consult with a custody evaluator or other mental health professionals to better support the family system.

Who Benefits from a PC?

• Separated or divorced parents with persistent parents conflict that disrupts the schedule.
• Families needing structured parental communication and faster decisions on routine issues.
• Matters where the court wants ongoing support through a court appointed neutral to reduce motions and hearings.

Decision-Making, Documentation & Compliance

Depending on the order, a PC may have authority to break deadlocks on narrow topics (e.g., exchange logistics), subject to court review. PCs often provide written summaries or minutes so both parents understand expectations, improving follow-through with court orders and reducing future conflict.

Cost & Practicalities

Fees are typically comparable to family law attorney rates and are often shared, though a court may allocate costs based on circumstances. While a PC is an added expense, many families find it more efficient than repeated court filings and hearings in high conflict cases.

I’m in Massachusetts—What Should I Do Next?

If you believe a Massachusetts Parenting Coordinator could help, we can review your orders, clarify the PC’s scope, and propose language for court orders that fits your family. We also coordinate with mental health professionals and—when necessary—a custody evaluator to create a stable framework for parents and children.

Schedule a consultation with Wright Family Law Group. We serve clients across Massachusetts from our Tewksbury and Danvers offices.

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