Canadian Parenting Coordinators Association, CPCA

Legislation: General Information

Parenting coordination is emerging as the most suitable approach to assisting parents that are embroiled in conflict.  Canada has the opportunity to become a world leader in ensuring that this valuable service is available to parents across the country.

Currently, there is no legislation in Canada specifically related to parenting coordination.  In the United States there are 8 states that have parenting coordination statutes, several others with non-specific statutes, and others with non-statutory programs.  (Bartlett, 2005b)  No legislation currently exists in other countries.

Parenting coordination legislation will:

• protect children from the harmful impacts of divorce by promoting the use of parenting coordination.

• authorize the courts to impose parenting coordination to protect children and also protect one or both parents from abuse from the other.

• provide clear direction to the courts, lawyers, parenting coordinators and parents as to how the process should be implemented.