Parenting Time Expediting is an effective intervention used to dispute issues not addressed in the existing parenting time order. Essentially, it is a narrowly scoped Parenting Consultant, who focuses on parenting time disputes involving interpretation and enforcement of existing orders or filling in the “gray areas” that might exist within an order. A Parenting Time Expeditor is a specially trained professional, agreed to by the parents and then court ordered. The Parenting Time Expeditor process is neutral, confidential and focused on the best interest of the children.
A Parenting Time Expeditor has two important roles:
- Mediating: these discussions are solely related to parenting time issues such as holiday schedules and vacation times set forth in an existing parenting time order. The parties and the expeditor talk through these issues, in a manner similar to a typical mediation, and try to reach a parenting time agreement. It is not rare for even the most conflicted parties to reach agreements with the aid of a Parenting Time Expeditor.
- Decision Making: if an agreement cannot be reached, the PTE is tasked with coming to a decision regarding the specified conflict between parties.
Intake – Our Parenting Time Expeditors prefer to have a joint meeting with the parties to begin the process and then individual meetings with each party, all within a few days. We have found this intake protocol to be important to our understanding of the parties, how they co-parent, and how they deal with their conflict. We rarely deviate from that protocol. We understand that there are cases in which the parties cannot or should not be together.
Scheduling – We try to make Parenting Time Expediting matters priority for scheduling as we understand families in need require timely response. If the circumstances warrant, some of our PTE’s are willing to schedule outside of normal business hours. The Parenting Time Expediting process is not amenable to dealing with emergencies, but it can accommodate urgent matters.
Cost – Parenting Time Expediting is not an inexpensive process, though it is typically cheaper than litigation. Some families just need a forum to address their parenting time issues and develop an agreement, which the PTE will then memorialize. Our Parenting Time Expeditors charge between $375 and $560 per hour. A minimum deposit of $4,000-$5,000 which includes a one-time $200 admin fee is also required, depending on the provider chosen. Typically, the parties divide PTE fees 50/50 unless otherwise ordered by the Court.
James Street, Letty Van Ert, and Christopher Vatsaas all provide parenting time expeditor services. Contact Tuft, Lach, Jerabek & O’Connell, PLLC at 651-771-0050 for more information.
