Parenting Coordinators

What is a Parenting Coordinator?
In North Carolina, a Parenting Coordinator (PC) is a court-appointed professional who supports families in high-conflict custody cases by helping parents reduce conflict and lessen their reliance on the court system.

PCs guide parents in implementing custody orders, improving communication, and resolving day-to-day disagreements—such as visitation schedules, transportation, holidays, school or daycare changes, and health or educational decisions.

What are the Qualifications?
North Carolina has established statewide requirements to serve as a Parenting Coordinator
(per N.C.G.S § 50-93), as follows

(1) Hold a master’s or doctorate degree in psychology, law, social work, or counseling.
(2) Have at least five years of related professional post-degree experience, pending cases involving the family;
(3) Hold a current North Carolina license in the area of practice.
(4) Participate in 24 hours of training in topics related to the developmental stages of children, the dynamics of high-conflict families, the stages and effects of divorce, problem-solving techniques, mediation, and legal issues. NOTE: The CCP Parenting Coordinator training meets these criteria.
(5) In order to maintain your eligibility as a Parenting Coordinator, you must also attend seminars that provide continuing education, group discussion, and peer support.

How Do I Get Appointed?
Although qualifications to serve as a PC are consistent statewide, each district manages their process to add PCs to the approved District Court list. Professionals pursuing approval as a PC should reference the local rules for the districts they wish to serve.

Center for Cooperative Parenting oversees and manages PC applications for Judicial District 18 (Chatham and Orange County). Applicants should submit the form for review by Center for Cooperative Parenting. Once approved, individuals will be included on the official Parenting Coordinator list maintained by the District 18 Court.