Parenting Coordination Order Template

1. The parties must within 14 days of the date of these Orders retain Jennifer Hetherington, as parenting coordinator (the Parenting Coordinator), for a minimum term of 24 months from the date of these Orders, on the terms provided in this Order and as set out in the Parenting Coordinator’s Agreement provided that where the terms of this Order conflict with the Agreement this Order will prevail.

2. The parties must attend on the Parenting Coordinator as required by the Parenting Coordinator on a non-confidential basis.

3. The parties’ parenting arrangements in relation to the Children are set out in: [insert as appropriate]

      • Their Minutes of Consent Order dated [date]
      • Their [interim/final] Parenting Plan dated [date]
      • [the interim/a final] court order made by The Honourable Justice/Judge/Registrar [Name of Judicial Officer] on [date of order], (each separately and together referred to as the Parenting Plan.)

4. The parties will complete the appointment of the Parenting Coordinator, including:

(a) selection of the Parenting Coordinator (if not named in this order);

(b) execution of the Parenting Coordination Agreement; and

(c) remittance of all requisite retainers and deposits

on or before [date], with liberty to apply to the Court failing conclusion of the appointment of the Parenting Coordinator.

5. The Parenting Coordinator may assist the parties in the implementation of their Parenting Order/Parenting Plan in the following manner and on a non-confidential basis by building consensus between the parties, including, but not limited to, by:

(a) developing and instituting guidelines for the implementation of the parenting terms of this Order;

(b) developing and instituting guidelines for communications between the parties

(c) identifying, creating and implementing strategies for resolving conflicts between the parties;

(d) providing information respecting resources available to the parties for the improvement of their communication or parenting skills; and

(e) issuing Recommendations and/or Proposed Protocols that the Parenting Coordinator believes would be in the best interest of the children in the implementation of the Parenting Plan and, if the Parenting Coordinator issues Recommendations or Proposed Protocols, she will provide the parties with written reasons for that Recommendation or Proposed Protocol; 

6. Either party is at liberty to apply to the Court if either party fails to comply with the Recommendations or Proposed Protocols of the Parenting Coordinator and the Recommendations or Proposed Protocols and the Parenting Coordinator’s written reasons for that Recommendation or Proposed Protocol will be available as evidence to be produced by either party in an application to the Court.

7. If the Parenting Coordinator is required, pursuant to S13D of the Family Law Act, to report to the Court a failure by either party to comply with this Order, the Parenting Coordinator will do so by email to the Associate or Registrar or otherwise as may be appropriate at the relevant time.

Download a sample of our Parenting Coordination Agreement

Download a Word version of the Parenting Coordination Order Template

Learn more about what an Australian Parenting Coordinator does (it’s not the same as some countries!) 

Contact us to enquire about appointing a Parenting Coordinator

Parenting Coordinators Australia - Untying the Knot

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