Oklahoma § 43-120.3 - Appointment of parenting coordinator – Party agreement –

§ 43-120.3. Appointment of parenting coordinator – Party agreement –

Authority - Meetings - Parental rights - Removal.

A. In any action for dissolution of marriage, legal separation,

paternity, or guardianship where minor children are involved, the

court may, upon its own motion, or by motion or agreement of the

parties, appoint a parenting coordinator to assist the parties in

resolving issues and decide disputed issues pursuant to the

provisions of the Parenting Coordinator Act related to parenting or

other family issues in the case except as provided in subsection B

of this section, and subsection A of Section 120.5 of this title.

B. The court shall not appoint a parenting coordinator if any

party objects, unless:

1. The court makes specific findings that the case is a highconflict case; and

2. The court makes specific findings that the appointment of a

parenting coordinator is in the best interest of any minor child in

the case.

C. 1. The authority of a parenting coordinator shall be

specified in the order appointing the parenting coordinator and

limited to matters that will aid the parties in:

a.

identifying disputed issues,

b.

reducing misunderstandings,

c.

clarifying priorities,

d.

exploring possibilities for compromise,

e.

developing methods of collaboration in parenting, and

f.

complying with the court’s order of custody,

visitation, or guardianship.

2. The appointment of a parenting coordinator shall not divest

the court of its exclusive jurisdiction to determine fundamental

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 43. Marriage and Family

issues of custody, visitation, and support, and the authority to

exercise management and control of the case.

3. The parenting coordinator shall not make any modification to

any order, judgment or decree; however, the parenting coordinator

may allow the parties to make minor temporary departures from a

parenting plan if authorized by the court to do so. The appointment

order should specify those matters which the parenting coordinator

is authorized to determine. The order shall specify which

determinations will be immediately effective and which will require

an opportunity for court review prior to taking effect.

D. The parties may limit the decision-making authority of the

parenting coordinator to specific issues or areas if the parenting

coordinator is being appointed pursuant to agreement of the parties.

E. Meetings between the parenting coordinator and the parties

need not follow any specific procedures and the meetings may be

informal. All communication between the parties and the parenting

coordinator shall not be confidential.

F. Nothing in the Parenting Coordinator Act shall abrogate the

custodial or noncustodial parent’s rights or any court-ordered

visitation given to grandparents or other persons except as

specifically addressed in the order appointing the parenting

coordinator.

G. 1. Except as otherwise provided by this subsection, the

court shall reserve the right to remove the parenting coordinator in

its own discretion.

2. The court may remove the parenting coordinator upon the

request and agreement of both parties. Upon the motion of either

party and good cause shown, the court may remove the parenting

coordinator.

Added by Laws 2001, c. 407, § 10, eff. July 1, 2001. Amended by

Laws 2003, c. 302, § 7, emerg. eff. May 28, 2003.