Parenting Coordination in Maryland — What It Is and When Courts Appoint One
Originally published: June 2026 | Reviewed by Don Saunders
Maryland courts appoint a parenting coordinator when two parents cannot resolve custody disputes on their own after an order is in place. A parenting coordinator is a neutral licensed professional — an attorney or mental health practitioner — who reduces ongoing conflict, rebuilds communication, and settles day-to-day disagreements before two parents return to a judge.
Courts appoint a PC when a case is labeled high-conflict, when mediation has stopped working, or when repeated custody violations keep the family in litigation.
Key Takeaways
A parenting coordinator is a neutral professional appointed under Maryland Rule 9-205.2 to reduce the effects of parental conflict on children.
Courts appoint a PC on a judge’s own initiative, on one parent’s motion, or by joint request of both parents.
A court-appointed PC serves for up to two years from the order date, with a written extension available.
PC communications are not confidential — the coordinator can testify in court as a fact witness.
Parenting coordination is not mediation, therapy, or co-parenting counseling.
Still returning to court over the same custody disputes? Saunders Mediation helps Annapolis families resolve parenting conflicts outside the courtroom. Call (703) 973-0098.
What Is a Parenting Coordinator Under Maryland Law?
A parenting coordinator is an impartial professional who works with two parents to reduce the effects of their conflict on their child. Maryland Rule 9-205.2 defines a parenting coordinator as “an impartial provider of parenting coordination service,” and parenting coordination as a process, during or post-divorce, in which parents work with a coordinator in the best interests of the child.
The role is hybrid by design. A PC is part educator, part dispute resolver, part case manager, and — in specific court-authorized circumstances — part decision-maker.
A PC does not represent either parent, does not provide therapy, and does not decide permanent custody. A PC helps parents carry out an existing custody order by addressing the communication and compliance breakdowns that keep sending families back to court — so parents can stop litigating the same disputes and start following a workable plan.
Parenting coordination is effective for parents who have difficulty communicating information about their children’s welfare, cannot agree on substantive issues concerning their children, or have complex child-related issues that may require intensive case management, according to the Maryland People’s Law Library.
If a dispute is at an earlier stage — a first custody agreement, a parenting plan, or a straightforward modification — family mediation in Annapolis is the right starting point. Parenting coordination exists for cases where the earlier process has not resolved the conflict.
If you’re ready to get
started, call us now!
When Maryland Courts Appoint a Parenting Coordinator
The central trigger for a court-ordered PC appointment is the level of conflict. Parenting coordinators may be appointed in an action in which the custody of, or visitation with, a child is in issue, and the court determines that the level of conflict between the parties warrants such appointment.
Maryland parenting coordination is generally used in high-conflict cases with child-related issues where mediation has not been effective or is not appropriate. In these cases, the court will appoint a parenting coordinator on its own under Maryland Rule 9-205.2(f).
An appointment can happen in three ways:
During a pending custody case. A court can appoint a PC while the case is still active — on one parent’s motion, on the joint request of both parents, or on the court’s own initiative after notice and a hearing. This pre-judgment appointment ends when the court enters a final custody or visitation judgment, unless the court continues the appointment.
After a custody judgment is entered, once a custody order is in place, the court can appoint the same person who served as PC during the case, or appoint a new PC to help manage post-judgment disputes about school placement, medical decisions, or access schedules.
By consent of both parents. Parents can voluntarily agree to use a PC without a court order. If the parents want the agreement enforced, they may ask a court to enter a consent order. That consent order must be in writing, signed by both parties and the parenting coordinator, state the services to be provided, address confidentiality limitations, state how much the PC will be paid, and be in the best interests of the child.
Common indicators that a court will order a PC include repeated return trips to court over school placement, medical decisions, or access schedule disputes; documented inability to communicate about the child; and ongoing violations of a standing custody order in Maryland.
What a Parenting Coordinator Is Authorized to Do
Maryland Rule 9-205.2(g) defines the specific services a PC can provide — so parents understand exactly what authority the coordinator holds and what falls outside that scope.
Developing or interpreting a custody plan. If no operative order exists, the PC works with parents to develop an agreed plan. If an order is in place, the PC helps parents resolve disputes about how to read and follow it, so they can implement the existing judgment without returning to court.
Educating parents about the child’s best interests. The PC explains how parental conflict affects children and helps each parent make decisions focused on the child’s needs, so the child is insulated from adult disputes about custody terms.
Building communication guidelines. The PC helps both parents agree on how to communicate — which channels to use, what information to share, and how to handle sensitive topics — so they can exchange necessary information about the child without triggering new disputes.
Modifying parenting patterns. The PC works with each parent to identify and reduce behaviors that generate conflict, so the child’s daily routine is not disrupted by predictable, repeating disputes between parents.
Making minor, temporary schedule adjustments. When both parents have agreed in writing, and the court order authorizes the PC to act, a PC can make limited, temporary modifications to the child access schedule. These are minor decisions, such as one-time or minor changes in the time or place for a child transfer, or one-time deviations from schedules to accommodate special events or circumstances. A PC cannot modify a permanent custody arrangement.
Requesting an emergency court hearing. If the PC believes a parent or child faces imminent physical or emotional danger, the PC can communicate directly with the court to request an immediate hearing, so the child receives protection without waiting for the next scheduled proceeding.
Testifying as a fact witness. A parenting coordinator may be called at trial as a fact witness about the parents’ attendance and engagement during PC sessions, but may not provide an expert opinion or recommendation regarding the final resolution of custody.
Communicate with the school, doctors, and therapists
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Modify permanent custody
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Provide an expert custody recommendation
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Maintain session confidentiality
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Serve simultaneously as a therapist or a mediator
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How Long Does a Parenting Coordinator Serve?
If appointed by the court, the parenting coordinator shall be appointed for no more than two years from the entry of the order, unless sooner terminated in accordance with Maryland Rule 9-205.2. The parties and the parenting coordinator may agree in writing to an extension for a specified period.
The court can terminate the appointment early by court order, by written agreement of both parents, or when the PC resigns or no longer meets qualification requirements. A PC appointed during a pending case automatically terminates when the court enters a final custody judgment, unless the court extends the role post-judgment.
If you’re ready to get
started, call us now!
Who Qualifies to Serve as a Parenting Coordinator in Maryland?
Maryland Rule 9-205.2(c) sets firm qualification requirements current as of 2026. A parenting coordinator must hold a graduate degree in psychology, counseling, social work, conflict management, negotiation, or a related subject matter area, or alternatively, a post-graduate degree from a medical or law school.
A parenting coordinator must also have at least three years of professional experience related to parenting coordination tasks after receiving that degree, and must hold a current license in any field where one is required.
In addition to the degree and experience requirements, a parenting coordinator must complete a minimum of 40 hours of parenting coordination training and a minimum of 20 hours of family mediation training, and must complete at least four hours of continuing education within each calendar year — as specified under Maryland Rule 9-205.2 as of 2026.
Parenting coordinators are generally licensed psychotherapists or attorneys who are trained in mediation, child development, high-conflict divorce, domestic violence, and parenting coordination.
Who Pays for a Parenting Coordinator in Maryland?
The court decides which party will pay the PC and may divide the costs based on the parties’ financial resources. Health insurance generally does not cover the costs of parenting coordination.
When there is no agreement or court order stating otherwise, parents typically divide parenting coordination fees 50/50, with each parent charged for one-half of all services rendered, when a court order allocates costs differently — based on financial circumstances — the PC follows that allocation.
The court-appointed PC may not charge or accept a fee higher than the rate the court sets for the case, so parents know the cost ceiling before the appointment begins.
Parenting Coordination vs. Mediation: Key Differences
Parents and attorneys frequently confuse these two processes. Each serves a different purpose and operates under different rules — so choosing the wrong process delays resolution and increases cost.
Mediation in Maryland is a confidential, voluntary process where a neutral helps two parties negotiate their own agreement. A mediator cannot be subpoenaed, cannot testify, and cannot impose a result.
Mediation works best for parents who can communicate and who want to reach their own agreement without court involvement.
Parenting coordination is structured, directive, and non-confidential. Unlike mediation, parenting coordination is not confidential — a parenting coordinator may be subpoenaed to testify in court, and their notes may be subpoenaed as well. The PC can also make limited decisions when authorized, which a mediator cannot do.
Unlike therapy and often mediation, parenting coordination is highly structured and often directive in style. The PC resolves conflicts by helping parents understand their shared responsibility for the child, not by facilitating open-ended negotiation.
Feature
Mediation
Parenting Coordination
Confidential
Yes
No
Can testify in court
No
Yes (fact witness only)
Can make decisions
No
Yes (minor, temporary, if authorized)
Who initiates
Parents or the court
Parents or the court
Best suited for
Earlier-stage disputes
High-conflict, post-order cases
Maryland rule
Md. Rule 9-205.1
Md. Rule 9-205.2
If family mediation is still viable in a custody dispute, that process is faster and less costly, and it preserves full decision-making control for both parents. A mediator at Saunders Mediation can help assess which approach fits the situation.
Parenting Coordination vs. Co-Parenting Counseling
The role most often confused with parenting coordination is that of a co-parenting counselor. The major difference is that co-parenting counseling is confidential, and information gathered through it cannot be shared with the court.
Co-parenting counseling builds skills through a therapeutic framework. Parenting coordination resolves disputes within a legal framework and produces a record that the court can access — so the coordinator’s observations are available to the judge if litigation resumes.
A parenting coordinator is a non-confidential, neutral role; therefore, a PC cannot serve as both a PC and the child’s attorney, therapist, or mediator in the same case. Dual roles are prohibited under the AFCC parenting coordination guidelines to protect the integrity of both processes.
How Parenting Coordination Fits Into Broader ADR in Maryland
Parenting coordination sits at the high-conflict end of Maryland’s alternative dispute resolution options. Courts reach for a PC when earlier interventions have not resolved the family’s disputes.
The progression typically runs as follows: parents attempt direct negotiation, then divorce mediation versus going to court in Maryland, then — when conflict continues post-judgment — parenting coordination. Courts may order a court-ordered mediation process alongside or before PC in contested custody cases. In the most serious cases, a custody evaluation runs parallel to PC.
Parents navigating Maryland parenting plans after a custody judgment should understand how a PC can help enforce and interpret plan terms without returning to a judge.
If a custody situation has reached the point where a parenting coordinator may be ordered, Saunders Mediation can help explore mediation options before the court intervenes. Call (703) 973-0098 or schedule a free consultation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is a parenting coordinator in Maryland?
A parenting coordinator is a neutral licensed professional appointed under Maryland Rule 9-205.2 to work with two parents to reduce conflict and resolve custody-related disputes. The PC educates parents, helps enforce the existing custody order, and can make limited temporary schedule decisions when the court authorizes it.
When does a Maryland court appoint a parenting coordinator?
A Maryland court appoints a PC when the level of conflict over custody or visitation warrants it — typically when parents cannot communicate, repeatedly violate a custody order, or return to court over school placement, medical decisions, or access schedule disputes. The court can act on its own initiative, on one parent’s motion, or by joint request.
Is a parenting coordinator the same as a mediator in Maryland?
No. A mediator facilitates negotiation in a confidential process and cannot impose any outcome. A parenting coordinator operates in a non-confidential, structured role — the PC can make limited decisions and testify in court as a fact witness. Mediation suits earlier-stage disputes; parenting coordination addresses high-conflict post-order cases.
Are parenting coordinator sessions confidential in Maryland?
No. Parenting coordination is not confidential under Maryland Rule 9-205.2. The coordinator’s notes and session records can be subpoenaed, and the PC can testify in court as a fact witness. This non-confidential structure creates accountability for both parents throughout the appointment.
How long does a court-appointed parenting coordinator serve in Maryland?
A court-appointed PC serves for a maximum of two years from the date of the order under Maryland Rule 9-205.2. The parties and the PC can agree in writing to extend that period. The court can also terminate the appointment early by order or written agreement of both parents.
Who pays for a parenting coordinator in Maryland?
The court allocates PC costs based on each party’s financial resources. When no court order specifies otherwise, parents divide fees equally. Health insurance does not cover parenting coordination costs, and a court-appointed PC cannot charge more than the rate the court sets for the case.
Can a parenting coordinator change a custody order in Maryland?
A PC can make minor, temporary modifications to a child access schedule — such as a one-time transfer location change or a schedule deviation for a special event — but only when the court order explicitly authorizes this, and both parents have agreed in writing. A PC cannot modify a permanent custody arrangement.
What qualifications does a parenting coordinator need in Maryland?
Under Maryland Rule 9-205.2(c), as of 2026, a PC must hold a graduate degree in psychology, counseling, social work, law, medicine, or a related field; have at least three years of post-degree professional experience; complete a minimum of 40 hours of parenting coordination training and 20 hours of family mediation training; and complete at least four hours of continuing education per calendar year.
Can a parenting coordinator testify in a Maryland custody case?
Yes, but only as a fact witness. A PC can testify about attendance, engagement, and agreements reached during sessions, but cannot offer an expert opinion on what the permanent custody arrangement should be and cannot make a custody recommendation to the court.
What is the difference between a parenting coordinator and a co-parenting counselor in Maryland?
Co-parenting counseling is a confidential therapeutic process — information from those sessions cannot be disclosed to the court. Parenting coordination is non-confidential and legally structured — records can be subpoenaed, and the PC can testify. A professional cannot serve simultaneously as a PC and as a therapist, mediator, or the child’s attorney in the same case.
Parenting disputes don’t have to stay in court. Saunders Mediation helps Annapolis families resolve custody conflicts through mediation — before a judge orders something more. Call (703) 973-0098 or contact us today.
