Navigating child custody issues in a divorce can be exhausting for many. Sometimes, parties are not able to co-parent effectively which can lead to concerns surrounding their child’s mental, emotional, and physical health. Parenting coordination is “a process in which the parties work with a parenting coordinator to reduce the effects or potential effects of conflict on the parties' child.” Md. Rule 9-205.2.

Generally, parties should consider parent coordination if they are in a high conflict situation, if they frequently have difficulty making joint decisions regarding their children, if there are frequent communication breakdowns, or if there are frequent violations of court-ordered custody orders.

Parties can hire a parenting coordinator on their own or petition the court to appoint one. If the court approves the appointment, the judge will decide which party pays for the parent coordinator (if not both) based on their financial circumstances.

Maryland Rule 9-205.2(g) outlines the services a parent coordinator can render which include:

(1) if there is no operative custody and visitation order, work with the parties to develop an agreed plan for custody and visitation;

(2) if there is an operative custody and visitation order, assist the parties in amicably resolving disputes about the interpretation of and compliance with the order and in making any joint recommendations to the court for any changes to the order;

(3) educate the parties about making and implementing decisions that are in the best interest of the child;

(4) assist the parties in developing guidelines for appropriate communication between them;

(5) suggest resources to assist the parties;

(6) assist the parties in modifying patterns of behavior and in developing parenting strategies to manage and reduce opportunities for conflict in order to reduce the impact of any conflict upon their child;

(7) in response to a subpoena issued at the request of a party or an attorney for a child of the parties, or upon action of the court pursuant to Rule 2-514 or 5-614, produce documents and testify in the action as a fact witness;

(8) if concerned that a party or child is in imminent physical or emotional danger, communicate with the court or court personnel to request an immediate hearing; and

(9) decide post-judgment disputes by making minor, temporary modifications to child access provisions ordered by the court if (A) the judgment or post-judgment order of the court authorizes such decision making, and (B) the parties have agreed in writing or on the record that the post-judgment parenting coordinator may do so.

If you have any questions about your case and whether a parent coordinator will be helpful in your situation, contact us at (443) 741-2568 to schedule a consultation. There are proactive measures you can take to ensure you resolve conflicts and create a healthier environment for your child.

“Nesting” during a divorce is when the parents take turns having their custodial time with their children in the family home and the parents themselves have separate places. Rather than the minor children going back and forth between two separate residences, they remain in the family home 100% of the time and the parents do all the rotating in and out of the family home.

What are the benefits of nesting agreements? Keeping the children’s environment and routine stable is often the top priority of many parents going through a divorce. Nesting is sometimes a favored option for some parents as it keeps the children’s school, after-school activities, neighbors, friends, etc. the same. Additionally, if either parent is not able to financially secure a new residence to accommodate the minor children, they sometimes choose to rent an affordable residence for themselves and keep the family home as the major housing cost. Nesting can also help parents that are going through a trial separation and gives them time to evaluate whether they really want to divorce and may help ease reconciliation.

Nesting agreements certainly come with their own challenges. It can be very emotional and challenging for both parents to move in and out of the family home continuously. Furthermore, if the parents are not able to secure an affordable second residence for themselves, it may end up costing the parties even more money to keep the family home. Nesting can also lead to other behavior such as spying on the other parent while they are in the house.

Determining whether a nesting agreement is an option for you and your family requires a lot of corroboration and understanding among the parties. Nesting is often very stressful and needs to be very carefully planned. If you have any questions regarding nesting agreements, please contact us at (443) 741-2567 and we would be happy to meet with you to discuss your options.

As the holiday season approaches, many parents can feel the pressure of dealing with the challenges of their holiday visitation schedule. Whether this is the first holiday season that you have to adhere to a visitation schedule with your ex, or perhaps you are dealing with a new change in the holiday schedule this year, there are steps you can take now to minimize the holiday stress with your ex.

Every co-parent should review their parenting plan or existing custody order prior to the holidays. If everything is still ok and no changes or accommodations need to be made, then a simple confirmation with your co-parent should suffice. If there are issues with your current schedule and need to change it, you should first communicate your request to your co-parent and see if any accommodation can be made. Both parents should be flexible and compromise to avoid unproductive communication. Some co-parents may consult and use the services of a mediator if they cannot reach an expeditious agreement among themselves.  Mediation can be an effective tool that may resolve the issue(s) without having to litigate in court. 

Renegotiating with your ex to change the holiday schedule, either on a temporary or permanent basis, can be challenging. If speaking with your co-parent is not fruitful and mediation does not work, you may want to consider speaking with an attorney to discuss your options. Some of the options available may be filing a court modification or enforcement. If you have any questions about your upcoming holiday access schedule, feel free to contact our firm and we would be happy to meet with you to discuss your legal options.