Do Parenting Coordinators Cost Extra and Who Pays in Ontario?

Yes, parenting coordination is described as a private-sector service and is usually a paid one. How the fees are shared depends on what you and the other parent agree or what a court orders, so read that document closely before you sign.

Parenting coordination is for parents with a history of serious conflict over parenting who already have a court order or parenting agreement setting out decision-making and a detailed schedule. The coordinator is usually a mental health professional or lawyer and can decide how to interpret the order or agreement.

The coordinator first tries consensual methods, and where settlement is not possible makes a determination in the children's best interests that both parents are bound by. This differs from family arbitration, where both people must get independent legal advice and a certificate of ILA before it starts, and costs can be split or assigned by the arbitrator. Free family mediation is available at Ontario courthouses on the day you are in court, and off-site mediation is charged on a sliding scale based on income and number of dependents. How to end the process depends on your agreement, so ask a lawyer.