There are so many situations where children of divorce suffer because their parents cannot continue fight after the divorce

In our office we have many divorce cases that NEVER end because the parents cannot stop fighting after the divorce.  These people have shared parenting of their children and they just cannot work together.  The children wind up in the middle of the fight.  They are the unfortunates.  In Palm Beach County, and pursuant to F.S. Section 61.125, Parenting Coordinators may be appointed to step in and assist battling parents.

Parenting Coordination is a process defined by Florida Statutes section 61.125 (1) where an impartial third party allows parents to implement a parenting plan facilitated through education, making recommendations to counsel, and making decisions within the scope of the court’s order. A Parenting Coordinator’s role is to empower families through skills development, assist them to resolve their own disputes, provide access to appropriate services, and to offer a variety of dispute resolution forums where the family can resolve problems without additional emotional trauma. The Fifteenth Circuit’s Alternative dispute Resolution (“ADR”) Program has compiled a list of Parenting Coordinators, for court-ordered referrals. These Parenting Coordinators have met the qualification requirements of Florida Statutes section 61.125 (4) and the ADR Program and can be appointed as Parenting Coordinators in high-conflict cases.

Upon agreement of the parties, the court’s own motion, or the motion of a party, the court may appoint a parenting coordinator and refer the parties to parenting coordination to assist in the resolution of disputes concerning their parenting plan.  A Parenting Coordinator must be a Physician, a Psychologist, an Attorney, a Mediator a Social Worker or be  licensed as a mental health professional under chapter 490 or chapter 491.2. The PC must complete:

In Palm Beach County eighteen people have qualified through the court system for judicial appointment as Parental Coordinators.  Keep in mind that as of 2011 Palm Beach County has a current population of approximately 19 million people.  Further, research has shown that Palm Beach County has some of the highest rates of divorce throughout the state of Florida and it is within the top five counties for divorce filings in the state.  One has to wonder – are eighteen qualified PC’s enough?  How hard is it to get a PC appointed?  What does it cost?  Are the PC’s reasonably available?  What power if any will the court grant a PC?  Although the State has approved PCs courts have been hesitant to appoint them, and hesitant to appoint an adequate number of PCs – the existing PCs have a virtual monopoly over the system and it is almost impossible for a new PC to get on the list.