Parenting coordination information, process and pricing

In order to be a parenting coordinator, a professional must have at least 10 years experience in family law. Cynthia A. Murphy has been practicing family law for approximately 20 years. She is an active member of the law societies of both Alberta and British Columbia and is qualified to work in both jurisdictions. 

Cynthia takes a child-centered approach to parenting coordination. Most parents who engage in parenting coordination already have parenting orders but are experiencing difficulties in implementing them effectively as the needs of a growing child change. Her primary goal as an parenting coordinator is to resolve disputes about parenting and the interpretation and implementation of parenting orders, awards and agreements directly, quickly and efficiently. 

Cynthia’s service strives to help parents learn:

· to communicate with each other more effectively; 

· place the interests of the children ahead of their own; 

· identify the triggers that escalate conflict and prevent them from settling disagreements; and, 

· resolve disagreements on their own, so that the assistance of parenting coordinators and other professionals is no longer needed

As a parenting coordinator, Cynthia is an unbiased and neutral assistant in parenting disputes. With the exception of the first contact interview, all communications are shared with both parties and none are private between a parent and Cynthia. All communications are by email only or within the joint meetings arranged through Videoconference. Cynthia does not receive telephone calls or text messages. If an email is sent to her by one parent, she will forward to the other parent immediately. 

Communications are to be a streamlined process. The point is to avoid micromanagement and lengthy review of text messages and email threads that often bog down and escalate the cost of the parenting coordination process. Please remember that time required to read communications must be logged and time to read them is charged at the regular rate. Please also note that the smallest amount of time that can be charged is 0.1 of an hour, being 6 minutes. For example, a short email must be billed at 0.1 of an hour so be mindful to refrain from sending frequent, very short, one line email communications as they can add up quickly.

Please contact us to request more information. We will send it to you free of charge so you can read about our important communication expectations in the Communication Guidelines page. We will also send you our Code of Conduct and our current parenting coordination agreement samples, including our standard parenting coordination agreement and our expedited parenting coordination agreement, from our Participation Agreements information. You can read a bit more about parenting coordination in the How It Works document which you will also receive for free and learn about our rates from the Fees & Disbursements document.

A CAUTION

The research on parenting coordination shows that the process is effective in reducing the number of times parents find themselves in court once a parenting plan is in place. The research also shows that parenting coordination can, over time, reduce conflict between parents and improve parents’ ability to resolve disagreements on their own. Parenting coordination is neither a cure-all nor an instant fix. The expectation is that parents will be required to learn to work with each other and settle these agreements on their own in the long term.

Parents who use parenting coordination typically experience much, much higher levels of conflict than other separated parents. Their conflict tends to be far more intense and longer-lasting, and usually revolves around issues that many other separated parents would be able to resolve without intervention. It is child centered in that the best interests of the child are more important than the interests of the parents. 

EXPEDITED PARENTING COORDINATION

Where the conflict between parents is likely to continue well into the future, parents can agree to a special expedited parenting coordination process that is aimed at the speedy resolution of parenting disputes as they arise.

The primary goal of this process is to resolve disputes as quickly as possible, to minimize cost as well as children’s exposure to their parents’ conflict. The process does not anticipate that disputes will be resolved by agreement and does not include a component aimed at improving parents’ communication and dispute resolution skills. The parents agree that, as an unbiased party, the parenting coordinator will make the decision after reviewing all the information. 

INTAKE PROCESS

Before we begin a new case, we ask that each parent complete an intake sheet and provide us with a photograph of their driver’s license, passport or some other form of photo identification. This is required to satisfy the "know your client(s)" regulations. Prior to beginning the process, Cynthia will also need to:

1. review any parenting assessments that may have been prepared, and any other reports concerning the family and the children, such as child protection reports, police reports, educational reports and psychological reports;

2. review the court order, arbitrator’s award or separation agreement that sets out the terms of the children’s parenting arrangements;

3. review any protection orders and undertakings that have been made in civil, criminal or child protection proceedings; and,

4. A one time only pre-parenting coordination meeting with each parent separately to identify the sources of their conflict, understand how the parents usually manage conflict, and assess the parents’ overall suitability for the parenting coordination process. This will be conducted using videoconferencing. 

Parenting coordination doesn’t suddenly make anyone more agreeable or change their opinion of the other parent and their parenting skills, nor does it instantly eliminate disagreements that are the flash-points of conflict. The people who have entered a parenting coordination process are still the same people they were before the process began. It’s important that you keep your expectations in check when you start parenting coordination. Improvement in communication and decision making for the child may take time. 

Depending on the circumstances, Cynthia may also need to assess for the presence of family violence and coercive control dynamics. This may include a referral to an independent agency.

MEETINGS & HEARINGS

Most of the time, communication in parenting co-ordinations conducted by Cynthia will be by email. Please request our free information and read about our important communication guidelines.

Meetings will be held by videoconference or teleconference. These meetings can be held anywhere in Alberta or British Columbia where one party maintains residence. Initial pre parenting co-ordination meetings will also be held by videoconference.

AGREEMENTS & DETERMINATIONS

When a parenting dispute is resolved by the parents’ agreement, Cynthia will prepare a memorandum summarizing the terms of the agreement that has been reached so that everyone has a record of exactly what was agreed to.

Where a parenting dispute is resolved by the expedited parenting coordination process, Cynthia will provide her decision to both parents in writing so that they have a record of exactly what was decided. The decision will summarize the nature of the dispute, Cynthia’s determination of the dispute and her reasons for making that decision.

HEARING FROM CHILDREN

Cynthia has experience representing children of all ages in both Alberta and British Columbia. She may speak to the children as needed when resolving certain disputes in the parenting coordination process. Cynthia may also, in consultation with the parents, arrange for an independent mental health professional to provide an assessment or opinion when necessary for the resolution of a parenting dispute. 

REPORTING

If required, Cynthia will report to the court, an arbitrator or a mediator about the parents’ progress in parenting coordination, particularly if there is an order or award authorizing her to do so, or if the parents agree she may report to the court, an arbitrator or a mediator.

PEOPLE WITHOUT LAWYERS

Cynthia provides parenting coordination services for people who do not have lawyers. 

RATES, DEPOSITS AND RETAINERS

Cynthia’s general rate for standard parenting coordination services is $350 per hour, plus GST and PST if a party is resident in British Columbia. Her rate for expedited parenting coordination services is $450 per hour, plus GST/PST. When Cynthia is required to travel outside Edmonton Alberta (which is rare as most parenting coordination meetings are held by videoconference), we charge a flat per diem rate of $400 plus travel expenses such as cost per kilometer or cost of other transportation to attend that particular location as well as disbursements such as food and lodging on an at-cost basis. 

Each parent will be required to provide both a deposit and a retainer. A retainer is a sum of money provided up front as security for future fees. In the example of a lawyer, when an account is issued for their services, they will pay that account from their client’s retainer. Retainers work the same way in parenting coordination processes, and our clients will be asked to replenish their retainers as our accounts are issued and their retainers are depleted. The amount we will ask for usually is based on ten hours’ work plus tax, about $3,675 for standard parenting coordination work.

A deposit works just like a retainer, except it is held back against the possibility that a parent decides to stop replenishing their retainer. This gives us a reserve of time that we can use to finish dealing with an issue before we must stop work. The amount we will ask for usually is based on two hours’ work plus tax, about $735 for standard parenting coordination work.