A divorcing couple with children might encounter a number of issues related to the care of their shared children that they are not able to resolve among themselves. In the state of New York, the court has the option to appoint a parenting coordinator to assist in this process. The parenting coordinator interviews, interacts with and observes both parents and children, then makes a recommendation to the court regarding time-sharing, custody and other child-centered issues.
The parenting coordinator makes recommendations to the court based on observations in the following areas:
- Parent-child relationship – Including how each parent speaks to, disciplines, listens to and understands the individual needs of the child.
- Child’s ability to adjust – Including the child’s level of anxiety around transitions, change, and transportation between homes.
- Conditions in each partner’s home – Including the general condition of the home, the child’s room, play area, access to outdoors or parks, presence of siblings or stepsiblings, proximity to school and friends.
- Child’s wishes – The parenting coordinator can consider the child’s wishes in recommending custody and time-sharing arrangements.
- Other specific factors – For example, if a child has special needs, the parenting coordinator’s recommendation might reflect an assessment of each parent’s ability to accommodate the child’s needs and each parent’s relationship to the child’s caregivers.
As the advocate specifically for the needs of the child, the parenting coordinator is instrumental in determining what arrangements are in the best interest of the child. Your child custody attorney can convey your concerns to the coordinator and help ensure the best outcome possible. To learn more about child custody issues, call the Buffalo, NY Law Offices of Randy S. Margulis at 716.886.9600 or contact us online.
As a Buffalo divorce lawyer for 28 years, I have devoted myself to solving the problems that affect families throughout the Buffalo metropolitan area and Western New York. As a family law attorney, I make it my goal to create a partnership of trust with my clients. People put their trust in me to handle cases that can potentially have a long-lasting impact on not only their lives, but the lives of their family as well.
Alexandra M. Rockwood is a Senior Associate Attorney with the Law Offices of Randy S. Margulis & Associates and has been with the firm since early 2020. She primarily practices in the areas of matrimonial and family law, including divorce, child custody, and child support. Alexandra is a practicing matrimonial and family law attorney as…
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5.0/5.0Divorce is always an unpleasant event and my case was no exception, yet the guidance, professionalism and ethical strategy that Randy Margulis provided was essential in finding the best solutions for my children, my ex-wife and myself. As the proces...
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5.0/5.0
Divorce is always an unpleasant event and my case was no exception, yet the guidance, professionalism and ethical strategy that Randy Margulis provided was essential in finding the best solutions for my children, my ex-wife and myself. As the proces...
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5.0/5.0
Randy Margulis is knowledgable of Domestic Law, dedicated, responsive, personable, aggressive and effective. I came to him on a friend's recommendation as well as Randy's reputation, and during the initial consultation I liked his approach and track ...
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5.0/5.0
Found Mr. Margulis to be a very organized and professional individual to work with. He is well-respected by his peers and is spoken of highly, I believe this helped with my divorce and made things go smoothly. I would highly recommend his services ...
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5.0/5.0
Randy is very firm and effective in court while empathetic to his clients. I am a domestic violence victim, and Randy made me feel safe and protected. My financial award was more than I envisioned it to be when I started my divorce. I can't thank ...
