RULE 9-205.2. PARENTING COORDINATION
West's Annotated Code of MarylandMaryland RulesEffective: April 1, 2023
Effective: April 1, 2023
MD Rules, Rule 9-205.2
RULE 9-205.2. PARENTING COORDINATION
Committee note: Actions in which parenting coordination may be used include an initial action to determine custody or visitation and an action to modify an existing order or judgment as to custody or visitation.
(1) Parenting Coordination. “Parenting coordination” means a process in which the parties work with a parenting coordinator to reduce the effects or potential effects of conflict on the parties' child. Although parenting coordination may draw upon alternative dispute resolution techniques, parenting coordination is not governed by the Rules in Title 17, except as otherwise provided in this Rule.
(B) at least 40 hours of accredited specialty training in topics related to parenting coordination, including conflict coaching, developmental stages of children, dynamics of high-conflict families, family violence dynamics, parenting skills, problem-solving techniques, and the stages and effects of divorce.
Committee note: The accredited specialty training requirement may be met by training offered by recognized national organizations such as the American Bar Association or the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.
(3) Continuing Education. Within each calendar year, a parenting coordinator shall complete a minimum of four hours of continuing education approved by the Administrative Office of the Courts in one or more of the topics listed in subsection (c)(2) of this Rule and in recent developments in family law. The Administrative Office shall maintain a list of approved continuing education programs.
(d) Parenting Coordinator Lists. An individual who has the qualifications listed in section (c) of this Rule and seeks court appointment as a parenting coordinator shall submit an application to the family support services coordinator of the circuit court for each county in which the individual seeks appointment. The application shall document that the individual meets the qualifications required in section (c) of this Rule. If satisfied that the applicant meets the qualifications, the family support services coordinator shall place the applicant's name on a list of qualified individuals which, together with the information submitted by each individual on the list, shall be accessible to the public.
(e) Approval of Parenting Coordinator Employed by Parties. In any action in which the custody of or visitation with a child of the parties is or was at issue, the parties, by agreement, may employ a parenting coordinator to assist them in dealing with existing or future conflicts regarding their access to and responsibilities for the child. The parties may jointly request the court to enter a consent order approving the agreement. The court shall enter such an order if it finds that the parenting coordinator has the qualifications set forth in section (c) of this Rule and that the agreement:
(f) Appointment of Parenting Coordinator by Court. In an action in which the custody of or visitation with a child of the parties is in issue and the court determines that the level of conflict between the parties with respect to that issue so warrants, the court may appoint a parenting coordinator in accordance with this section.
(1) Appointment During Pendency of Action. On motion of a party, on joint request of the parties, or on the court's own initiative and after notice and hearing, the court may appoint a parenting coordinator during the pendency of the action. Unless sooner terminated in accordance with this Rule, the appointment shall terminate upon the entry of a judgment granting or modifying custody or visitation.
(2) Appointment Upon Entry of Judgment. Upon entry of a judgment granting or modifying custody or visitation, the court, with the consent of the parties and after a hearing, may appoint a parenting coordinator. The court may appoint the individual who served as a parenting coordinator during the pendency of the action. Unless sooner terminated in accordance with this Rule, the appointment of a post-judgment parenting coordinator shall not exceed two years unless the parties and the parenting coordinator agree in writing to an extension for a specified longer period.
Committee note: Appointment of a parenting coordinator does not affect the applicability of Rules 9-204, 9-205, or 9-205.1, nor does the appointment preclude the use of an alternative dispute resolution process under Title 17 of these Rules.
(B) if there are allegations or findings of domestic violence committed by or against a party or child, any provisions the court deems necessary to address the safety and protection of the parties, all children of the parties, other children residing in the home of a party, and the parenting coordinator; and
Committee note: The order must be consistent with the relevant provisions of any other existing order, such as a “no contact” requirement that is included in a civil protective order or is a condition of pre-trial release in a criminal case.
(9) decide post-judgment disputes by making minor, temporary modifications to child access provisions ordered by the court if (A) the judgment or post-judgment order of the court authorizes such decision making, and (B) the parties have agreed in writing or on the record that the post-judgment parenting coordinator may do so.
Committee note: Examples of such modifications include one-time or minor changes in the time or place for child transfer and one-time or minor deviations from access schedules to accommodate special events or circumstances.
Committee note: This subsection does not prohibit communications with respect to routine administrative matters; collection of fees, including submission of records of the number of contacts with each party and the duration of each contact; or resignation. Nothing in the subsection affects the duty to report child abuse or neglect under any provision of federal or State law or the right of the parenting coordinator to defend against allegations of misconduct or negligence.
Cross reference: See Rule 5-702 as to expert witnesses.
(1) Access to Case Records. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the parenting coordinator shall have access to all case records in the action. If a document or any information contained in a case record is not open to public inspection under the Rules in Title 16, Chapter 900, the court shall determine whether the parenting coordinator may have access to it and shall specify any conditions to that access.
Cross reference: See Rule 16-903 for the definition of “case record.”
(B) Confidential or privileged information received by the parenting coordinator from a party or from a third person with the consent of a party may be disclosed by the parenting coordinator to the other party, to an attorney for the child, and in court pursuant to subsections (g)(7) and (8) of this Rule. Unless otherwise required by law, the parenting coordinator may not disclose the information to anyone else without the consent of the party who provided the information or consented to a third person providing it.
(2) Resignation. A parenting coordinator may resign at any time by written notice sent by first-class mail to each party and any attorney for the child. The notice shall state the effective date of the resignation and that the parties may request the appointment of another parenting coordinator. The notice shall be sent at least 15 days before the effective date of the resignation. Promptly after mailing the notice, and at least seven days before the effective date of resignation, the parenting coordinator shall file a copy of the notice with the court.
(1) Fee Schedules. Subject to the approval of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, the county administrative judge of each circuit court may develop and adopt maximum fee schedules for parenting coordinators. In developing the fee schedules, the county administrative judge shall take into account the availability of qualified individuals willing to provide parenting coordination services and the ability of litigants to pay for those services. A parenting coordinator appointed by the court may not charge or accept a fee for parenting coordination services in that action in excess of the fee allowed by the applicable schedule. Violation of this subsection shall be cause for removal from all lists maintained pursuant to section (d) of this Rule, Rule 9-205, and the Rules in Title 17.
(2) Allocation of Fees and Expenses. Subject to any agreement entered into by the parties pursuant to section (e) of this Rule, the court shall designate how and by whom the parenting coordinator shall be paid. If the court finds that the parties have the financial means to pay the fees and expenses of the parenting coordinator, the court shall allocate the fees and expenses of the parenting coordinator between the parties and may enter an order against either or both parties for the reasonable fees and expenses.
Source: This Rule is new.
Credits
[Adopted June 7, 2011, eff. July 1, 2011. Amended June 6, 2016, eff. July 1, 2016; June 20, 2017, eff. Aug. 1, 2017; June 29, 2020, eff. Aug. 1, 2020; April 21, 2023, eff. nunc pro tunc April 1, 2023.]
MD Rules, Rule 9-205.2, MD R FAM LAW ACT Rule 9-205.2
Current with amendments received through February 1, 2024. Some sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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