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Parents rarely imagine that exchanging their child at a gas station parking lot or arguing over a soccer schedule could end up in front of a judge. Yet for many families in Indiana, that is exactly what happens. The conflict is not about loving the child less. It is about communication that has broken down so badly that every text feels like a battle and every pickup has the potential to explode.

Parenting coordination is one of the few tools in Indiana law that is designed specifically for these high‑conflict situations. It gives families a structured way to manage day‑to‑day disagreements and keep children out of the crossfire while preserving the court’s ultimate authority.​

This guide walks through what parenting coordination in Indiana really looks like in practice, when courts use it, what a parenting coordinator can and cannot do, and how a parenting coordinator lawyer or child custody attorney in Indiana can help you navigate the process.​

What Is Parenting Coordination in Indiana

If you feel like you spend more time arguing with your co‑parent than parenting your child, you are not alone. High‑conflict co‑parenting is common in Indianapolis and across Indiana, and it can take a real toll on children and adults.

Indiana law uses parenting coordination as a child‑focused dispute resolution process for exactly these situations. In simple terms, parenting coordination is a court ordered process where a trained professional is appointed to help high‑conflict parents carry out an existing custody or parenting time order and resolve ongoing disagreements. The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines describe parenting coordination as a way to assist “high conflict” parents with implementing parenting plans, addressing communication problems, and reducing conflict around parenting decisions.​

A parenting coordinator in Indiana is not a judge and not either parent’s advocate. This person is a neutral, usually a registered Indiana domestic relations mediator with additional training in parenting coordination, who works with both parents to address recurring day‑to‑day issues like exchanges, holiday schedules, and school or activity disputes.​

Parenting coordination Indiana is about making a court order workable in real life, not re‑writing it from scratch.​

Legal Authority and Guidelines for Parenting Coordination

One of the reasons parenting coordination has grown in use across Indiana is that it now has a clear legal structure behind it. For many years, judges and lawyers used parenting coordinators in an informal way. That changed when the Indiana Supreme Court formally added Section V, Parenting Coordination, to the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines.​

Section V of the Guidelines explains:

• Parenting coordination is a court ordered, child‑focused process where a Parenting Coordinator assists high‑conflict parents with parenting issues.​

• A Parenting Coordinator must be a registered Indiana domestic relations mediator with additional training or experience in parenting coordination that the court finds acceptable.​

• The court’s appointment order has to define the Parenting Coordinator’s term of service, responsibilities, scope of authority, access to information, and how the fees will be allocated between the parents.​

The Guidelines also lay out how Parenting Coordinators report to the court, how recommendations are handled, and how confidentiality works in these cases. For example, recommendations from a Parenting Coordinator are not automatically self‑executing. A judge remains responsible for entering enforceable orders and can set expedited hearings if a parent objects to a recommendation.​

For parents, the key takeaway is this. Parenting coordination in Indiana is not an informal experiment. It is a structured process with rules, limits, and accountability built into the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines.​

When Indiana Courts Use Parenting Coordinators

Not every custody case in Indiana needs a Parenting Coordinator. Many parents, even if they disagree at times, manage to follow their parenting plan and work through problems with the help of lawyers or mediators. Parenting coordination tends to come into play when conflicts do not stop.

Section V of the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines allows courts to appoint Parenting Coordinators for “high conflict” parents. High conflict in this context usually involves patterns like:​

• Ongoing litigation or repeated filings over custody or parenting time disputes.​

• Frequent arguments about exchanges, transportation, or last‑minute schedule changes.​

• Chronic communication breakdowns where texts and emails are hostile, lengthy, or constant.​

• Disagreements about school choice, extracurricular activities, or medical decisions that never seem to get resolved.​

Indiana courts can appoint a Parenting Coordinator in a couple of ways. A judge can do it on the court’s own motion when the record shows ongoing high conflict that is affecting the child. Or one or both parents, often through a child custody attorney in Indiana, can ask the court to order parenting coordination because they recognize the pattern and want a different approach.​

Parenting coordination is especially common in high‑conflict cases in counties like Marion, Hamilton, Boone, Hendricks, Johnson, Hancock and surrounding central Indiana jurisdictions where families often return to court again and again over the same issues. Judges use Parenting Coordinators to reduce these repeated hearings and to give parents real‑time support between court dates.​

What a Parenting Coordinator Can and Cannot Do

Understanding what a Parenting Coordinator can actually do is one of the most important parts of feeling comfortable with the process. Many parents are understandably nervous about “bringing a stranger into” their family dynamics.

The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines specify that a Parenting Coordinator’s role is to assist parents in implementing and complying with existing parenting time and custody orders, educate them about children’s needs, and help resolve conflict over day‑to‑day matters. In practice, that usually includes work like:​

• Helping clarify confusing parts of a parenting plan or custody order.​

• Coaching parents on healthier ways to communicate and problem‑solve.​

• Working through disputes about exchanges, holiday splits, school events, and extracurricular activities.​

• Gathering information from schools, healthcare providers, or other professionals if necessary, consistent with the court’s order.​

• Issuing written recommendations in certain disputes, which can then be reviewed by the court if one or both parents object.​

There are also clear limits. A Parenting Coordinator in Indiana cannot:

• Change legal custody from joint to sole, or vice versa.​

• Make a binding recommendation to change custody or significantly change parenting time.​

• Modify child support or decide financial issues like who pays private school tuition.​

• Replace your lawyer, your therapist, or your judge. The coordinator’s role is different from each of these professionals.​

Any significant changes to custody, parenting time, or child support must still go through the court, usually through a motion or petition filed by a child custody attorney in Indiana or other family law counsel.​

This balance is intentional. Parenting coordination Indiana is meant to give families a faster, more flexible way to address everyday disputes without handing over the court’s core decision‑making power to a private professional.​

Parenting Coordination vs. Mediation, Custody Evaluation, and Therapy

A lot of confusion around parenting coordination comes from mixing it up with other processes. Many Indiana families have already experienced mediation, therapy, or even a custody evaluation before a Parenting Coordinator is mentioned. Understanding how each role is different helps set expectations.

Mediation

• Mediation in Indiana is typically a short‑term, confidential process where a neutral mediator helps parents reach an agreement about custody, parenting time, or property.​

• The goal is settlement. When mediation ends, the mediator’s work is usually done.

Parenting coordination, on the other hand, is longer term. The Parenting Coordinator stays involved after there is already a court order in place and works with parents over time to manage recurring issues in implementing that order.​

Custody evaluation

• A custody evaluator investigates the family situation and makes a recommendation to the court about what custody and parenting time arrangement is in the child’s best interests.​

• Evaluators look at history, relationships, mental health, school and community factors to help the judge decide what order to enter.

Once that order is entered, a Parenting Coordinator may come in to help the parents actually live with that plan day to day, not to re‑evaluate the entire custody arrangement.​

Therapy

• Therapists provide mental health treatment, trauma support, or co‑parenting counseling.

• Their primary duty is to the mental health of the client, whether that is a parent or a child.

A Parenting Coordinator is not providing therapy, even if they are a mental health professional by training. Their focus is practical dispute resolution around parenting decisions within the constraints of the court’s orders.​

Seeing these differences clearly makes it easier to understand why a court might order mediation at one stage, a custody evaluation at another, and parenting coordination at yet another point in an Indiana custody case.

How the Parenting Coordination Process Works Step by Step

If you learn that a Parenting Coordinator is being appointed in your case, one of the first questions is usually “what happens next.” While every family is different, the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines and common practice in Marion County and other Indiana courts give a general shape to the process.​

Appointment and order

The process begins with a written court order. This appointment order:

• Names the Parenting Coordinator and confirms they meet Indiana’s qualification requirements.​

• Defines how long the appointment will last, often one to two years with possible extension.​

• Lays out the scope of the Coordinator’s authority and what kinds of issues they are allowed to address.​

• Allocates responsibility for fees between the parents.​

A parenting coordinator lawyer can be critical at this stage by helping craft or negotiate that order so it protects your rights and is realistic for your family.​

Initial meetings and information gathering

Next, the Parenting Coordinator will usually:

• Review the current custody order, parenting plan, and any relevant court history.​

• Hold separate meetings with each parent to hear concerns and get background.​

• Sometimes request releases to talk with therapists, teachers, or other professionals, if permitted by the court’s order.​

This stage helps the Coordinator understand patterns of conflict and what has already been tried.

Setting communication frameworks

Because high conflict often centers on communication, many Parenting Coordinators work with parents to establish healthier patterns. That could include:

• Deciding how and when parents will communicate (for example, using a parenting app or email rather than text).​

• Setting expectations for response times, tone, and length of messages.​

• Teaching conflict‑reduction strategies focused on the child’s needs.​

Parents may feel uncomfortable at first with this level of structure, but many find over time that having clear expectations lowers the daily stress.

Ongoing coordination and issue resolution

As new issues arise, the Parenting Coordinator becomes a point of contact. Typical matters include:

• Last‑minute schedule problems like illness, transportation breakdowns, or weather.​

• Disputes about extracurricular activities schedules and who pays for what.​

• Clarifying holiday or vacation language in the order.​

• Concerns about transitions if a child is struggling with anxiety or behavior at exchanges.​

The Coordinator may hold joint meetings, phone calls, or virtual sessions. In some cases, they will also provide written follow‑ups summarizing agreements or recommendations, especially where the court order requires written reports.​

Recommendations and court oversight

When parents cannot agree even with help, the Parenting Coordinator may issue formal written recommendations on certain issues, depending on the authority granted in the appointment order. At that point:​

• The recommendation may be submitted to the court.

• Parents are given an opportunity to object, usually within a set number of days.​

• If an objection is filed, the court will typically set an expedited hearing to consider the recommendation and both sides’ arguments.​

The judge remains the decision maker. A child custody attorney in Indiana can present evidence, cross‑examine, and argue for or against adopting the Parenting Coordinator’s recommendation.​

Pros, Cons, and Common Concerns for Parents

No tool is perfect, and parenting coordination has both benefits and drawbacks. Understanding both sides helps you make thoughtful decisions with your lawyer.

Potential benefits

Families and professionals often highlight several advantages of parenting coordination Indiana:

• Reduced court time: Instead of filing a new motion for every disagreement about pickup times or school events, many of these issues can be worked through directly with the Parenting Coordinator.​

• Faster problem solving: Court calendars are crowded. A Coordinator can usually respond more quickly than a hearing can be scheduled.​

• Child‑centered focus: Coordinators are trained to keep the child’s needs at the center and to help parents see how ongoing conflict affects children’s emotional health.​

• Skills that last: As parents learn new communication tools and see them reinforced over time, some find that the conflict naturally decreases, even after the Coordinator’s term ends.​

For some families, parenting coordination is the difference between constant trips back to court and a more stable, predictable rhythm.

Real‑world concerns

It is also important to acknowledge the concerns parents often raise.

Cost is a major issue. Parenting Coordinators charge for their time, and the court typically splits those costs between the parties. If one parent has significantly fewer financial resources, that can create a sense of imbalance or resentment.​

Parents also sometimes worry about bias or power imbalances. In cases involving domestic violence, coercive control, or untreated substance abuse, a Parenting Coordinator must be especially careful to understand safety concerns. The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines recognize the need for careful screening in these situations and give courts flexibility on whether parenting coordination is appropriate.​

Finally, some parents are frustrated when a Coordinator cannot “fix” bigger problems such as a pattern of non‑compliance with orders or serious mental health problems. Those issues may require separate court action, protective orders, or even criminal involvement, which go beyond the Coordinator’s authority.​

This is where a parenting coordinator lawyer or child custody attorney in Indiana becomes essential. The lawyer can help you decide when to use the Coordinator and when to go back to court, and can step in if the process is not working the way it should.​

How a Parenting Coordinator Lawyer or Child Custody Attorney in Indiana Helps

Because parenting coordination sits at the intersection of court orders, conflict resolution, and child development, having experienced legal counsel can make a real difference in the outcome.

Before appointment

Before a judge ever signs an appointment order, a child custody attorney in Indiana can:

• Help you evaluate whether parenting coordination is a good fit for your family, or whether other tools like mediation, supervised parenting time, or modified orders would be better.​

• Advocate for or against appointment, depending on your safety concerns, the history of the case, and your child’s needs.​

• Negotiate the terms of the appointment order to define the Coordinator’s scope, reporting requirements, confidentiality, duration, and fee allocation clearly.​

These details matter. They set the guardrails for the Coordinator’s work and protect your ability to challenge recommendations if necessary.

During the parenting coordination process

Once a Parenting Coordinator is in place, a lawyer does not disappear from the picture. A parenting coordinator lawyer can:

• Prepare you for meetings with the Coordinator and help you understand what to share and how to present concerns constructively.​

• Review written recommendations, reports, or summaries from the Coordinator with you so you understand what they mean legally.​

• File objections or motions when a recommendation is not consistent with the court’s order, the child’s best interests, or your legal rights.​

An attorney can also help document patterns of non‑compliance by the other parent, using the parenting coordination record as evidence if the court needs to step back in.​

Modification, appeals, and future planning

Information developed during parenting coordination can become important later if you seek to modify custody or parenting time. For example:

• Ongoing refusal to follow the Coordinator’s guidance may show a lack of willingness to co‑parent.​

• Persistent high conflict, documented through Coordinator reports, may support a request to change decision‑making structures or parenting time schedules.​

In rare cases, if a court relies too heavily on a Coordinator’s recommendation or fails to apply the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines properly, there may be appellate issues. Experienced appellate counsel can then evaluate whether an appeal is appropriate.​

The bottom line is that parenting coordination is not a substitute for legal advice. Working with a parenting coordinator lawyer or seasoned child custody attorney in Indiana gives you a guide through a process that can otherwise feel confusing and overwhelming.​

Working With Ciyou & Associates, P.C.

High‑conflict custody cases are at the heart of what Ciyou & Associates, P.C. handles every day. Based in Indianapolis and serving clients throughout Indiana, the firm focuses on complex domestic relations matters, including parenting time disputes, parenting coordination issues, modification of custody orders, and appeals.​

The team’s experience with parenting coordination Indiana includes:

• Representing parents in Marion County and surrounding counties when courts consider appointing Parenting Coordinators.​

• Drafting and negotiating detailed appointment orders tailored to the family’s unique circumstances.​

• Litigating disputes that arise out of the parenting coordination process, including objections to recommendations and enforcement of orders.​

If you are in Indianapolis, Carmel, Zionsville, Noblesville, Fishers, Westfield, Greenwood, Brownsburg, Avon or anywhere else in Indiana and you are facing constant parenting time conflict or a possible parenting coordinator appointment, legal guidance can be the difference between feeling trapped and having a clear plan.​

To talk about your situation and options, you can contact Ciyou & Associates, P.C. at (317) 210-2000 and schedule a time to discuss your case with an attorney who understands high‑conflict custody and parenting coordination.​

Frequently Asked Questions

What is parenting coordination in Indiana?

Parenting coordination is a court ordered, child‑focused process where a trained Parenting Coordinator helps high‑conflict parents implement custody and parenting time orders and resolve ongoing disputes about day‑to‑day parenting decisions. It is not about deciding custody from scratch but about making existing orders work in real life.​

Who counts as “high conflict” for parenting coordination?

The Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines describe high‑conflict parents as those who repeatedly litigate issues, have ongoing difficulty communicating, and cannot resolve disputes about the care of their children without outside help. Indicators include frequent court filings, constant hostile communication, and recurring fights over exchanges, schedules, and parental decision‑making.​

Can a Parenting Coordinator change custody or child support?

No. A Parenting Coordinator cannot change legal custody, significantly alter parenting time, or modify child support. Only the court has the authority to enter or modify those orders, usually in response to a formal petition filed through a child custody attorney in Indiana or other family law counsel.​

How is a Parenting Coordinator appointed in Indiana?

An Indiana court can appoint a Parenting Coordinator by agreement of the parents or on the court’s own motion when it determines that parenting coordination is in the best interests of the child in a high‑conflict case. The appointment is made through a written court order that spells out the Coordinator’s authority, responsibilities, term, and payment arrangements.​

Who pays for the Parenting Coordinator?

Parenting Coordinators charge for their services, and the court usually allocates fees between the parents in the appointment order. Sometimes the split is equal, and in other cases the judge may tailor the percentage based on each parent’s ability to pay or specific circumstances in the case.​

What if I disagree with the Parenting Coordinator’s recommendations?

If you disagree with a recommendation, you generally have the right to object and ask the court to review it. The judge can then set an expedited hearing where both parents, often through their attorneys, can present arguments and evidence before the court decides whether to adopt, modify, or reject the recommendation.​

How can a child custody attorney in Indiana help with parenting coordination?

A child custody attorney in Indiana can advise you about whether parenting coordination is appropriate, negotiate the terms of the appointment order, and coach you on how to participate effectively. If disputes arise, your attorney can challenge recommendations, seek enforcement of orders, or pursue modification of custody or parenting time as needed.​

Disclaimer

This blog is intended for general informational purposes only and is based on publicly available resources, including the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines and Indiana‑focused family law materials. It is not legal advice for your specific situation and does not create an attorney‑client relationship with Ciyou & Associates, P.C. or any of its lawyers. Family law is highly fact‑sensitive, and parenting coordination may not be appropriate in every case, especially where there are serious safety concerns. You should consult directly with a qualified parenting coordinator lawyer or child custody attorney in Indiana about your circumstances before making decisions that could affect your rights or your child’s wellbeing.​

Citations

• Ciyou & Associates, P.C., Parenting Coordination in Indiana: How It Works and When It’s Needed, https://ciyoulaw.com/parenting-coordination-in-indiana-how-it-works-and-when-its-needed/​

• Indiana Supreme Court, Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines, Section V Parenting Coordination, https://rules.incourts.gov/Content/parenting/section5/current.htm​

• Ciyou & Associates, P.C., Navigating the Maze: The Roles of Professionals in Family Law, https://ciyoulaw.com/professionals-family-law/​

• Ciyou & Associates, P.C., Joint vs. Sole Custody in Indiana, https://ciyoulaw.com/joint-vs-sole-custody-in-indiana-key-differences-legal-implications-and-what-parents-need-to-know/​

• Ciyou & Associates, P.C., Parenting Time Guidelines in Indiana, https://ciyoulaw.com/parenting-time-guidelines-in-indiana/​

• Ciyou & Associates, P.C., Parental Alienation in Indiana, https://ciyoulaw.com/parental-alienation-signs-evidence-legal-remedies/​

• Ciyou & Associates, P.C., How Indiana Courts Determine the Best Interests of the Child, https://ciyoulaw.com/how-indiana-courts-determine-the-best-interests-of-the-child/​

• Ciyou & Associates, P.C., Checklist of Child Custody Evidence, https://ciyoulaw.com/checklist-of-child-custody-evidence/​

• Ciyou & Associates, P.C., Divorce Court and Spouse’s Mental Health, https://ciyoulaw.com/divorce-court-spouses-mental-health/​

• Kids’ Voice of Indiana, Parenting Coordination Clinic, https://www.kidsvoicein.org/other-community-projects/parenting-coordination-clinic/​

• Indy PC, What is a Parenting Coordinator, https://www.indypc.org/what-is-a-pc/​

• Indiana Lawyer, Ringlespaugh, Parenting coordination: the good, the bad, and the ugly, https://www.theindianalawyer.com/articles/44341-ringlespaugh-parenting-coordination-the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly​

• Indiana Legal Resources on Parenting Time Guidelines (Spanish & English PDFs), e.g., https://www.in.gov/counties/floyd/files/indiana_parenting_time_guidelines.pdf