Introducing Parent Coordination Services at Peterson, Berk & Cross
Family law professionals know that some cases continue to consume significant court resources long after the final judgment is entered. Even when custody and placement issues have been litigated, certain parents remain locked in conflict over routine day-to-day decisions, communication, exchanges, extracurricular activities, medical appointments, school concerns, and countless other parenting issues.
As part of my commitment to helping families move forward and reducing unnecessary conflict, I am pleased to announce that I am now offering Parent Coordination Services throughout Northeastern Wisconsin.
What Is Parent Coordination?
Parent coordination is a child-focused dispute resolution process designed to assist parents who experience ongoing, high levels of conflict in co-parenting relationships. A parent coordinator works with parents to improve communication, reduce future disputes, and create practical solutions that support the best interests of the children.
Rather than returning repeatedly to court for issues that could be resolved through guided intervention, parents work with a neutral professional who helps them navigate recurring conflicts and implement court orders more effectively.
Parent coordination can be particularly valuable in cases involving:
- Chronic communication difficulties
- Frequent placement disputes
- Ongoing disagreements regarding education or healthcare
- High-conflict exchanges
- Repeated post-judgment motions
- Allegations of noncompliance with parenting plans
- Significant distrust between parents
- Children who are negatively affected by ongoing parental conflict
Why Parent Coordination Works
Many post-judgment disputes are not the result of major legal disagreements. Instead, they arise from an inability to communicate effectively or make routine parenting decisions without conflict.
Parent coordination provides a structured framework that helps parents:
- Focus on the needs of their children rather than past grievances
- Improve communication and decision-making skills
- Reduce misunderstandings and escalation
- Address disputes before they become emergencies
- Increase compliance with existing court orders
- Create greater stability and predictability for children
When parents have access to a trusted neutral professional, they often find solutions more quickly and with significantly less emotional and financial cost than repeated litigation.
Benefits for Attorneys
Family law attorneys understand that some clients require ongoing support beyond the entry of a judgment or order.
Parent coordination can provide substantial benefits by:
- Reducing repetitive disputes that generate costly litigation
- Allowing attorneys to focus on legal issues rather than routine parenting disagreements
- Helping clients develop practical conflict-management skills
- Preserving attorney-client relationships by providing an additional resource
- Supporting settlement efforts and long-term case resolution
For attorneys representing either parent, parent coordination can become an effective component of a broader strategy aimed at reducing conflict while protecting the client’s interests.
Benefits for Guardians ad Litem
Guardians ad litem are frequently asked to intervene in circumstances where children are experiencing the effects of prolonged parental conflict.
Parent coordination can help by:
- Creating accountability and structure between parents
- Encouraging child-centered decision making
- Reducing the frequency of recurring disputes
- Improving compliance with recommendations and court orders
- Minimizing the emotional burden placed on children
In many cases, parent coordination serves as an important support mechanism that helps families implement recommendations and maintain progress after litigation concludes.
Benefits for the Court
High-conflict parenting cases often require substantial judicial attention long after a final order is entered.
By providing a mechanism for early intervention and dispute management, parent coordination can:
- Reduce recurring court appearances
- Address minor conflicts before they become major controversies
- Improve parental compliance with court orders
- Promote more effective co-parenting relationships
- Help preserve judicial resources
Judges and court commissioners frequently encounter cases where the underlying legal issues have been resolved, but the parties remain unable to co-parent effectively. Parent coordination offers a practical tool to address these continuing challenges.
A Child-Focused Approach
The most important beneficiary of successful parent coordination is the child.
Children thrive when parents can make decisions without exposing them to ongoing conflict. While parent coordination cannot eliminate every disagreement, it can help parents develop healthier patterns of communication and problem-solving that reduce the impact of conflict on their children.
The goal is not to determine who is right or wrong. The goal is to help families move beyond recurring disputes and create a more stable environment in which children can succeed.
Serving Northeastern Wisconsin
As a family law attorney with Peterson, Berk & Cross, I have worked extensively with families facing complex custody, placement, and post-judgment challenges. My parent coordination practice is designed to complement the work of attorneys, guardians ad litem, and the courts by offering a practical, child-focused resource for families struggling with persistent co-parenting conflict.
I welcome referrals from attorneys, guardians ad litem, mediators, and judicial officers seeking an additional tool to assist families in high-conflict cases.
Contact Information
To discuss whether parent coordination may be appropriate for a particular case, please contact:
Attorney Devin Shanley
Peterson, Berk & Cross, S.C.
Parent Coordinator and Family Law Attorney
920-831-0300
[email protected]
www.pbclaw.com
Helping families reduce conflict, improve communication, and focus on what matters most: the well-being of their children.