Legislation

What are the limitations of a Parenting Coordinator?

With written consent of both parents, a Parenting Coordinator may:

(a)  have temporary decision-making authority to resolve specific non-substantive disputes between the parties until such time as a court order is entered modifying the decision or make recommendations to the court concerning modifications to the parenting plan or time-sharing; and

(b)  have access to confidential and privileged records and information of that party or provide confidential and privileged information for that party to health care providers and to any other third parties.

With Court approval, the Parenting Coordinator may:

(a)  have access to a child’s confidential and privileged records and information or provide confidential and privileged information for that child to health care providers and to any other third parties.

A Parenting Coordinator shall not have decision making authority to resolve substantive disputes between the parties. A dispute is substantive if it would:

(1) significantly change the quantity or decrease the quality of time a child spends with either parent; or

(2) modify parental responsibility.

In 2002, the Florida Chapter of the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (FLAFCC) convened a task force to develop a parenting coordination statute, rule, and ethical standards.  The end result of these efforts can be found at

61.125 Parenting coordination.—

(1) PURPOSE.—The purpose of parenting coordination is to provide a child-focused alternative dispute resolution process whereby a parenting coordinator assists the parents in creating or implementing a parenting plan by facilitating the resolution of disputes between the parents by providing education, making recommendations, and, with the prior approval of the parents and the court, making limited decisions within the scope of the court’s order of referral.  Read more