TREADSTONE LAW · ONTARIO · DIGITAL LEGAL SERVICES · EST. MMXXI ·TSL
Learn/Ask a Lawyer/Family/What kinds of disputes are…
Family

What kinds of disputes are typically outside a parenting coordinator's authority?

TSL Written by the Treadstone Law team· Updated August 2026

Because a parenting coordinator's authority comes from the parents' own agreement rather than a fixed statutory role, the exact boundaries vary by case, but certain kinds of disputes are commonly left outside their authority across most arrangements. Major decisions like changing who holds decision-making responsibility, relocating a child to a different city or province, or significantly overhauling the parenting time schedule typically remain matters for the court or a fresh agreement between the parents, rather than something a parenting coordinator can simply decide.

Support amounts and broader financial disputes are also generally outside the role, since parenting coordination is built around the practical, ongoing implementation of an existing parenting arrangement, not resolving the underlying legal or financial framework itself. The reasoning is that these bigger issues have more significant, lasting consequences for the child and the parents, and warrant the fuller process a court or formal negotiation provides. Anyone entering a parenting coordination agreement should look closely at exactly what is and isn't included, since the written scope, not general assumptions about the role, controls what the coordinator can actually decide.

Key takeaways

  • A parenting coordinator's scope is set by agreement, so exact boundaries vary by case.
  • Major decisions like decision-making responsibility changes and relocation are typically excluded.
  • Support amounts and broader financial disputes generally fall outside this role too.
  • Review the written scope in the agreement closely rather than assuming what's included.
This is general information, not legal advice. It doesn’t create a lawyer–client relationship, and the rules can change. For advice on your situation, a Treadstone family lawyer can help.
Was this helpful?Share:

Go deeper

Still have questions?

Search 6,000 answers, or send yours to a Treadstone lawyer — we answer in plain language.

All answersStart a File →