Custody

If you are involved in a divorce or custody case involving a minor child, the judge may appoint a parenting coordinator to help figure out the family issues and have both sides come to an agreement.¹ The parenting coordinator will suggest to the judge what s/he thinks is best for the child and the terms you were all able to agree upon. If you object to the parenting coordinator’s report/suggestions, you can file an objection within ten days of receiving this report, which the judge will review.² Even if the judge appoints a coordinator, the judge has the final say on custody, visitation, and child support.³

The judge may appoint a coordinator on his/her own, or you or the other parent could file a motion asking to appoint a parenting coordinator to your case. However, if you or the other parent objects to having a parenting coordinator appointed, the court will not appoint one unless:

• there are a lot of disagreements between the parents; and
• the judge thinks that the coordinator is in the best interest of the child.⁴

The court may decide that the parents have to pay for the parenting coordinator’s pay based on their income, or the judge can order a different amount per parent if the judge believes there is “good cause” to do so. The state will not pay for a parenting coordinator. If possible, the judge may appoint a coordinator to serve on a volunteer basis in cases where the judge feels that a coordinator is necessary and the parties cannot afford one.⁵

¹ 43 O.S. § 120.3(A)
² 43 O.S. § 120.4(A), (C), (D)
³ 43 O.S. § 120.3(C)(2)
⁴ 43 O.S. § 120.3(A), (B)(1), (B)(2) 
⁵ 43 O.S. § 120.5