San Mateo Parent Coordinator

San Mateo Parent Coordinator Attorney

Whether you’ve been appointed a coordinator by a family court judge or you are looking to resolve your custody disputes outside of court, a skilled and qualified San Mateo parent coordinator is bound to make the process easier for you. Custody cases can be highly contentious and overwhelming, but with the help of an experienced parent coordinator, you don’t need to figure out your legal issues alone.

At TDC Family Law, family law attorney Tracy Duell-Cazes has 35 years of experience helping families. She is well-equipped to handle your unique case with the attention, care, and dedication it deserves.

What Is Parenting Coordination in CA?

Parenting coordination is a form of alternative dispute resolution that allows co-parents to address their child custody concerns in an official capacity outside of court. The legal proceedings are facilitated by a parent coordinator, who is a neutral and unbiased third-party professional.

Within parenting coordination, all parties meet with the coordinator to address custody matters. These issues may include establishing a parenting plan with visitation terms that work for everyone, holiday scheduling, day-to-day co-parenting concerns, and solutions regarding schooling, extracurricular activities, discipline, and healthcare.

What Is the Benefit of Parenting Coordination?

There are numerous benefits of working with a parent coordinator, such as:

• Protecting children from a stressful environment with potential parental arguments
• Resolving current conflicts and building problem-solving skills for the future
• Finding solutions to custody and visitation concerns without delays when the court  is involved

It’s important to remember that there are also potential disadvantages to parenting coordination, as with any alternative dispute resolution method, depending on your unique circumstances. If you’re unsure whether you would get the most out of working with a parent coordinator, ask a qualified family law attorney.

Some cons of parenting coordination you may want to consider include:

• Many parent coordinators charge by the hour in San Mateo, so it’s important to be aware of your budget
• It is not a replacement for co-parenting or marriage counseling, so don’t expect it to resolve every fundamental issue
• It’s possible to rely too heavily on the parent coordinator to fix custody disputes instead of working to personally resolve disputes with your spouse

Child Custody Issues in California

Individuals seeking to establish an official, legally binding child custody order, such as those actively going through a divorce or legal separation, must come to a general agreement about how to divide their parenting time. Otherwise, this decision is left to a judge.

When determining child custody, legal professionals must consider the child’s age, health needs, connection and involvement with their community, and their individual relationship with each parent. During the proceedings, it must be decided whether the parents will share joint physical custody of their child or if one party will hold sole physical custody.

Parent Coordinator FAQs

Q: Is There a Downside to Working with a Parent Coordinator?

A: Yes, there can be downsides to working with a parent coordinator depending. Parenting coordination may not be ideal for your budget if you expect to have numerous high-conflict custody issues.

A parent coordinator may not be a fit for co-parents who are unwilling to negotiate and compromise to reach a custody settlement. If parties are unwilling to work toward solutions, you may rely too much on a parent coordinator, as well as accrue higher fees for their time.

Q: What Does a Parent Coordinator Do in California?

A: In California, the role of a parent coordinator is to facilitate private proceedings for co-parents regarding their child custody issues. Your parent coordinator helps identify and assess custody disputes, offers advice and solutions, and promotes healthy and communicative negotiations. Coordinators can also make recommendations to the court about your family’s potential custody plan, including visitation and how parenting time is divided.

Q: Can Parent Coordinators Change Custody Orders in California?

A: Parent coordinators cannot change established custody orders in most cases. It is possible for coordinators to make minor modifications to your custody arrangement, such as setting regulations on where a parent can take their child during visitation.

Additionally, a parent coordinator may be granted certain legal authority, depending on the situation. Court-appointed coordinators may be assigned legal power to make certain decisions, while the authority of privately hired coordinators is left up to the parents.

Q: What’s the Difference Between a Parent Coordinator and a Mediator?

A: The main difference between a parent coordinator and a mediator is that coordinators typically focus primarily on child custody issues, while mediators can oversee a broader category of family law matters.

Parent coordinators and mediation lawyers are qualified legal professionals who assist individuals with their family law cases in an unbiased third-party role. While parent coordinators are trained to work on custody cases, a family law mediator can resolve issues regarding property division, spousal support, and other divorce matters.

The parent coordination process is not confidential, while Mediation under the California Evidence Code is completely confidential.

Q: Do I Need a Parent Coordinator and Counseling?

A: Whether you need both a parent coordinator and co-parent counseling depends on your unique situation and the needs of your family. If you and your co-parent can’t seem to agree on a custody arrangement that works for both parties, it’s recommended that you work with a trained coordinator.

However, if you and your co-parent need additional guidance and support in learning how to effectively work together, consider speaking with a family counselor about residual issues.

Qualified Parenting Coordination Professionals

TDC Family Law is a professional legal practice based in the San Jose area, although they work with clients in San Mateo as well. Tracy Duell-Cazes is dedicated to skillfully assisting spouses and their families through worrisome times, guiding them through their legal issues inside and outside of the courtroom. Contact TDC Family Law today to schedule an initial meeting with a parent coordinator and mediator to find out what she can do for you.