How Parenting Facilitation Can Help In High-Conflict Divorces

In this article, you can discover…

• The meaning and potential benefits of parent facilitation.
• The differences between mediation and parent facilitation.
• Common challenges with parent facilitation and how to overcome them.

What Is Parent Facilitation, And How Does It Work In Texas?

A parent facilitator is a specially trained person who helps divorcing parents learn better co-parenting techniques and conflict resolution. They can also help you reach an agreement with your spouse about post-divorce child care and living arrangements without having to go to trial or have a judge decide custody. 

The parent facilitator is there to help you and your spouse work together, listen to each other, and put your child first as you understand how to co-parent effectively in the long run. 

How Is Parent Facilitation Different From Mediation?

Unlike legal mediation, parent facilitation lacks a signed mediated settlement agreement at the end. And while mediation tends to happen over a single session, parent facilitation can be stretched out over multiple sessions that are weeks apart. 

Parent facilitation is also much more collaborative and conversational, as parents work together to understand what will best benefit their child post-divorce. 

What Are The Key Benefits Of Parent Facilitation In High Conflict Divorces?

Parent facilitation is significantly more cost-effective than having to go to trial, as the facilitator is there to help both you and your spouse have open conversations. These conversations will involve what will or will not work post-divorce, what is best for your child, and how both of you can work together to co-parent effectively. 

Attorney Christina Perrone is an accomplished family law attorney serving Texas. For over 15 years, she’s helped clients just like you make use of parent facilitators, navigate high-conflict divorces, and move forward with their children’s interests in mind.

Have questions, or in need of excellent representation? Get in touch with The Perrone Law Firm, PLLC, at (903) 964-1122 for an initial consultation today.

In contrast, a trial involves attorneys presenting evidence of both parents’ fitness or lack of fitness, and ultimately, a decision is handed down by a judge on how custody will be shared. 

Parent facilitation can also be quite a bit faster than trial, allowing parents to quickly resolve issues such as weekend arrangements in light of travel or where a child will stay for holidays. 

What Are The Challenges Of Using Parent Facilitation In High Conflict Divorces?

Parent facilitation is not legally binding. No one can force either parent to agree to terms or work with the other party. This can be especially difficult if one parent refuses to budge, compromise, or meet the other party halfway. In such situations, facilitation stalls. 

An experienced parent facilitator, however, can help both parties work through conflicts, see the value of the process, and guide discussions in such a way that both parents and children benefit. 

Can Parent Facilitation Be Ordered By A Court During A High Conflict Divorce?

Yes. While many parents choose parent facilitation voluntarily, this process may be ordered by a court. 

While the court can not compel you to reach an agreement, it may dictate how quickly you must make your first appointment and who is responsible for paying the facilitator’s fees. The court will also let you know who the specific parent facilitator is and how to reach out to them. 

For their part, the parent facilitator will encourage both you and the other parent to attend sessions and will report any non-compliance to the court. Parent facilitators can also seek out information and records from pediatricians, schools, and counselors to help you and your spouse reach agreements and find ways to resolve your differences. 

Uniquely, parent facilitation can be ordered to continue even after the divorce is finalized, allowing you and the other party to continue working through your differences. This can be an excellent way for both of you to stay on the same page, navigate life and parenting post-divorce, and avoid returning to court over conflicts or for changes to custody orders. 

Still Have Questions? Ready To Get Started? For more information on Parenting Facilitation In High-Conflict Divorces, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you are seeking by calling (903) 964-1122 today.