• Facilitating the resolution of disputes in a timely manner
• Educating Co-Parents about children’s needs
• With prior approval of the Co-Parents or the court, making decisions within the scope of the Court Order or appointment contract

Jordana Wolfson is a Parenting Coordinator (PC). This designation is created through the parties signing a Consent Order (also called a Stipulated Order) through their attorneys and the court. A lengthy document outlines the role of this person and givers her judicial “immunity” power, which means she can make recommendations that the family must follow, “although there is a built-in process of checks and balances through the courts if needed.

PCs are called in to figure out Parenting Time gray areas. Some examples include determining if a child needs a therapist and who that therapist will be, choosing extracurricular activities, how to decide where to send a child to school when parents cannot agree, summer camps or family milestone celebrations and other matters of joint legal custody. The PC also works with parents on how to treat one another more respectfully and avoid creating additional issues that will impact the children.

“My approach is to try to get parents to work together,” Jordana says. “If I can’t get them to agree, I make the decision, and it is binding.”

This is a formal position that carries a lot of weight with the courts . When a PC issues a recommendation, it becomes legally binding. The family has 14 days to contest it, and if they do not, or if the court denies the objection, the family must follow the recommendations permanently.

“My goal is always to empower parents to work together for their children’s peace and success,” Jordana says. “When they can’t, options like this help the family. But our first step will always be to seek a resolution-focused approach that will help parents work together in ways that benefit their children.

Inquire about Parenting Time Coordination!

Courts and attorneys use standard Parenting Time Agreement templates to determine when each parent has time with their children. However, it’s not required to use a template—parents can and should have a say in how Parenting Time is divided between them!

With that in mind, we work with parents to develop Parenting Time Agremeents that work for their family.

Every divorce is unique because every family situation is unique, which is why it’s better for a family’s long-term health and well-being to create a custom Parenting Time Agreement that speaks to their needs.

The Agreements we build address how a family functions, taking into consideration the parents’ work parameters, how they celebrate holidays and special occasions, and other details that are unique to the family.

Most people don’t realize they have options and choices when it comes to Parenting Time! We give families variations and help them make informed choices. We try to get as specific as possible so there is no confusion once the divorce is final and the family starts living according to the Agreement.

To help us build your Parenting Time Agreement, consider the following:

• What hours does each parent work? Are they shift-based? Does one parent travel a lot? What makes sense for each parent when it comes to time with the children?
• How do you celebrate holidays? Is one holiday more important for one parent and another for the other parent? Can you be flexible with who has the children with them to celebrate at their most special times?
• Are there any non-traditional milestones or special days in the year that will be important for you to spend with your kids?
• How do you feel about having your children with you for your birthday or theirs?
• When you think about having the children with you for a holiday, is it just for the holiday, or for an extended period of time around the holiday?
• How will your schedule or family needs change in the summer compared with the school year?
• What are your emotional needs when it comes to spending time away from your children—or with them? Be honest about how long you can single-parent without a break!

“When people build their Parenting Time arrangement themselves, they have ownership over it,” Jordana says. “They’ve created something that feels right and usually don’t have to return to the court post-judgment to make changes.”

A Parenting Time Agreement is the crown jewel of any divorce – it’s what guides your life post-divorce. Let’s work together to create a living situation everyone can be happy with!