St. Paul, MN family law attorney Susan Lach explains how parenting consulting works in Minnesota divorces. She pointso out that one form of ADR is what Minnesota calls parenting consulting, while other states refer to it as parenting coordination. In Minnesota, a parenting consultant can only be appointed if both parties agree; the court cannot impose one unilaterally.

A parenting consultant works with high-conflict custody cases, learning about the parties and first attempting to negotiate solutions, much like mediation. If the parties cannot reach an agreement, the consultant can make a decision on the matter, which is then binding. The parties have a limited window to challenge the decision in court, though most do not.

This process is designed for divorced parents who remain in high-conflict situations and struggle to agree on even the simplest issues. She notes that she handles a significant number of parenting consulting cases due to the intensity and frequency of these disputes.