Practice Areas

• Parenting Coordination*
• Family Court Mediation
• Adoption
• Guardianship
• Child Welfare Extended Family / Caregiver Counsel
• Child Welfare Parent's Counsel (Waimea Family Court only)
• Divorce (Waimea Family Court only)
• Custody/Paternity/Child Support (Waimea Family Court only)
• Family Court Protective Orders / TROs (Waimea Family Court only)

* What is Parenting Coordination?

Parenting Coordination is an ongoing dispute resolution process that helps parents in high-conflict cases implement their custody orders. Often, after making it through a custody dispute, parents feel unsupported when they are left to deal directly with a former partner about important child-related issues that are outside the scope of their legal documents. Meeting regularly with a neutral third party can help neutralize conflict and help parents navigate the day-to-day issues involved in co-parenting. In turn, this can help keep families from returning to court and help minimize the negative effect ongoing parental conflict has on children.

• Parenting Coordination is a voluntary process governed by a court order. To participate, the case must be screened, parents must agree to adhere to the rules and guidelines of the process, and a court order must issue.
• Parenting Coordination appointments generally last for two years.
• A deposit must be paid upfront to be kept in a trust account and billed throughout the case. Depending on the circumstances of the case, funds may be returned, or additional fees may be incurred. The court order appointing the Parenting Coordinator will specify the payment schedule and the proportion of the fee each parent will pay.
• Parenting Coordination sessions take place over video conference and generally involve both parents. If necessary, parent sessions can be conducted separately.
• If you would like to learn more about Parenting Coordination, consider this resource from the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts: https://www.afccnet.org/Resource-Center/Family-Resources/Understanding-the-Parenting-Coordination-Process