Using A Parental Facilitator In A Texas Divorce

Do Both Parents Have To Agree To Use A Parental Facilitator?

Both parents do not have to agree to use a parental facilitator. Typically, the court orders a parental facilitator who is required in cases with a high potential for significant conflict about the parenting plan.

A parenting plan includes things like conservatorship rights and the possession and access to the children. Since the court usually orders a parental facilitator, it doesn’t matter whether the parents think it’s necessary.

Is Parental Facilitation The Same As Counseling?

Parental facilitation is not the same as counseling. Parenting facilitators would like to be referred to as something other than parent counselors. In counseling, the counselor often identifies therapeutic goals to change the lifestyle or ways of thinking. There’s also usually the privilege of a confidential relationship between the patient, therapist, or counselor.

So, parental facilitation is different from counseling because it’s not confidential. The parent team facilitator can (and often does) go to court and testify about each parent’s progress. Additionally, there are no therapeutic goals specific to each parent that the facilitator is working on with the parent.

Parental facilitation is more generalized on how to make the best parenting plan for the involved children, and that’s done without the parenting facilitator ever actually meeting with them. So, it’s quite a different process than counseling.

How Do I Get My Parenting Facilitator Involved In My Case? Can I Get My Facilitator Involved Before The Court Orders The Parental Facilitator?

Sometimes, you can involve a parental facilitator before the court orders one for your case. If you believe your case will need a parenting facilitator, visit with some potential facilitators ahead of your first hearing in court. This way, you and your attorney can work together. You will tell the judge you’re requesting a parenting facilitator and that you have some potential facilitators with whom you want to work.

An attorney who represents a parent in a family law case can request the court appoint a parenting facilitator if it’s something that the court hasn’t already done on its own. An attorney can request the parental facilitator, and individual litigants should talk to their attorneys about whether it’s something that could help in their particular case.

Can A Parenting Facilitator Make Decisions In My Case?

The goal of the facilitation is to develop an agreed parenting plan outside the court process that will incorporate into a court order approved and signed by the judge. Suppose you do not let the parenting facilitator make some decisions in your case or give them the authority to guide you toward making certain decisions. In that case, you’re likely wasting your time.

For more information on Using A Parental Facilitator In A Texas Divorce, an initial consultation is your next best step. Get the information and legal answers you seek by calling (903) 964-1122 today.