Parent Coordinators

Parent Coordinators and Supervised Visitation Lists

MORE ABOUT PARENT COORDINATORS

Support in Childcare Coordination

Summit County Domestic Relations Court deals with cases involving parties with children, whether they are divorcing or unmarried. Custody and parenting time are significant concerns, and the court aims to help parents make decisions in the best interest of their children.

For some parents, further assistance may be required even after the court process ends. Those who struggle to resolve issues positively may be referred to a Parent Coordinator for decision-making support.

What is a Parent Coordinator?

Qualified impartial professionals, known as “parenting coordinators,” assist parties with the implementation of parental rights and responsibilities or companionship time orders.

As a result, parties minimize court involvement with parenting issues. Parties also learn communication and negotiation skills necessary to prevent and resolve future disputes.

As per Sup. R. 90.05, the requirements for individuals include:

• A master’s degree or higher, law degree, or education and experience satisfactory to the court or division.

• At least two years of professional experience with situations involving children or other relevant experience satisfactory to the court or division.

• Completion of 78 hours of mediation training, specializing in Family Law matters.

(See Sup. R. 90.01; supra note 3).

How Much Does It Cost to Have a Parent Coordinator?

Parent Coordinators are independent private contractors who charge an hourly rate. Cost may range from $125 – $350 per hour.

Find more information on our Parent Coordination Fact Sheet

The court may order parenting coordination when the court or division determines one or more of the following factors are present:

(A) The parties have ongoing disagreements about the implementation of a parental rights and responsibilities or companionship time order and need ongoing assistance;

(B) There is a history of extreme or ongoing parental conflict that has been unresolved by previous litigation or other interventions and from which a child of the parties is adversely affected;

(C) The parties have a child whose parenting time schedule requires frequent adjustments, specified in an order of the court or division, to maintain age­ appropriate contact with both parties, and the parties have been previously unable to reach agreements on their parenting time schedule without intervention by the court or division;

(D) The parties have a child with a medical or psychological condition or disability that requires frequent decisions regarding treatment or frequent adjustments in the parenting time schedule, specified in an order of the court or division, and the parties have been previously unable to reach agreements on their parenting time schedule without intervention by the court or division;

(E) One or both parties suffer from a medical or psychological condition or disability that results in an inability to reach agreements on or make adjustments in their parenting time schedule without assistance, even when minor in nature;

(F) Any other factor as determined by the court or division. Parent Coordination cannot be used to: Grant, modify, or terminate a protection order;  Chang custody  Change the primary placement of a child.

MORE ABOUT SUPERVISED VISITATION

What Is Supervised Visitation?

Supervised visitation occurs when a parent is permitted to spend time with a child only when someone can supervise their interactions.

Typically, the other parent or another appropriate guardian has physical custody of the child. The child lives with their parent or guardian who has physical custody and has supervised visitation on a set schedule with the other parent. A trained child development expert or social worker could provide supervision at a designated visitation location, or an adult the parties agree on could supervise the visit at a home or public area.

Supervised visits may also be ordered in situations where the state has removed a child from the custody of one or more parent(s) due to abuse or neglect. The child in these cases may be living with other relatives or foster parents but may have supervised visits with their parent.

When Does the Court Order Supervised Visitation?

The court orders supervised visitation if there is reason to believe that the child is not safe alone in the care of that parent but there is also reason to believe it is in the child’s best interests to see that parent sometimes.

Examples of situations where the court may order supervised visitation include the following:

  • Accusations of abuse or neglect have been made against the parent
  • When a parent is struggling with addiction or mental health issues and presents a risk to the child
  • A parent is engaged in parental alienation and the court wants to ensure the parent is not trying to turn the child against the other parent
  • A parent presents a flight risk and the court wants to ensure the child is not kidnapped by that parent

Where Will the Visits Take Place?

The first issue that must be decided is where supervised visits will take place. There are often designated locations, such as a room in the courthouse or public or private supervised visitation facilities. If supervised visitation occurs in the court or at a facility, there is usually a charge such as $25 or $35 an hour. The court may sometimes waive these fees when the visits occur in publicly-run facilities. .

In some circumstances, supervised visits may take place in a public location or in someone’s home. For example, a supervised visit may occur at a local park or at a grandparent’s home. It’s up to the court to decide what is best for the child.

Who Supervises the Visits?

The other big issue that must be decided is who will supervise the visits.

Often, a trained social worker or child development expert is in charge of supervising. The social worker or development expert monitors interactions between parent and child and ensures that the child is safe and the visit goes as smoothly as possible.

In some circumstances, the court and/or parents may be OK with other adults supervising the visits. For example, a supervised visit may take place at a grandparent’s house under the supervision of the grandparents.

Whoever is responsible for supervising must follow supervised visitation rules, though, such as not allowing the parent and child to be alone together.

How Long Will Supervised Visitation Be Imposed?

Supervised visits are sometimes ordered temporarily until the issue necessitating the supervision has been resolved. For example, if a parent is allowed only supervised visits because of addiction issues and they resolve those issues and no longer present a potential risk to the child, then the parent may become entitled to unsupervised visits.

The supervisor of the visits may be asked to make notes about the parent and child’s Interactions which can be reported to the court and used to help determine if supervised visits should continue or if the parent should be allowed some unsupervised time.

The parent can also petition the court to ask for a change in the visitation schedule including a shift to unsupervised visits. The court may modify an existing custody arrangement that calls for supervised visits if there is a material change in circumstance. If it is no longer in the child’s best interests for supervised visits to continue, the court can make whatever modifications are appropriate.

An experienced family law attorney can provide assistance to parents involved in a custody case in which supervised visits are imposed. An attorney can help parents understand how to navigate both the supervised visitation rules and any modifications to their custody agreement that may become necessary over time.

Bieber, Christy JD, What is Supervised Visitation? Definition and Rules, Forbes Advisor,  31 May 2023 https://www.forbes.com/advisor/legal/child-custody/supervised-visitation/ Accessed 16 February 2024 (Edited for clarity, nothing in this article should be construed as legal advice.)