Category Archives: Parenting Coordination

This is part one of a two-part series. It was originally published on August 29, 2022 by The Lawyers Daily. In part two, we will provide more case law regarding parenting co-ordination.   By Hilary Linton and Borzou Tabrizi.   With court delays limiting options for parents who have child-related disputes, parenting co-ordination is increasingly an appealing alternative. This series …
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In a recent case, a judge of the Superior Court of Justice outlined certain behaviour of a respondent-husband that had a real impact on costs. I will concentrate on the behaviour because, during my years on the bench, I was always surprised by lawyers and their parties who were oblivious to the impact their conduct, both prior to and during …
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One of the most important, but often overlooked, part of the parenting coordination (PC) process is parent education and coaching. As PC is not inexpensive, parents are often unable or unwilling to engage in additional costs outside of the consensus and decision-making phase. The resources available for parents to engage in their own education are considerable and extremely accessible. As …
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As family mediators, we work “in the shadow of the law”. Our job is to help parties reach agreements that are better for them than their alternatives… meaning mediators must know what a court would do with a given situation. We also must put the interests of children first, and decline to mediate parenting outcomes that we believe will not …
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Walk softly and carry a big stick is a variation on a phrase popularized by US President Theodore Roosevelt in a 1903 speech when he said to the crowd “speak softly and carry a big stick”. In other words, attempt peaceful negotiations while also being prepared for confrontation by displaying one’s power, especially elements of force. When I think of the …
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I spend a considerable amount of time each month talking to prospective clients about various dispute resolution processes. I tell them what my processes look like and what my expectations are for the clients. Recently a client asked how I would describe a successful PC client. It was an excellent question as to the more we can explain to clients …
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The parenting coordination process is a difficult one for both clients and PCs. Invariably there is one parent who is more committed; or is driving the process. In addition, once the arbitration phase of the process has been utilized, the losing parent usually disengages altogether. Throw in the fact that many parents have not been fully educated on the process …
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In one of the most compelling decisions I have read in a long time, a British judge decided to disallow a 14-year-old’s proposal to move to another country with father, even though the son gave evidence that he very much wanted to move. It is a touching decision that almost made me cry, mostly because of the profoundly beautiful way …
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