Superior Court >Family Court >Services >Conciliation Services Evaluation Services (Parenting Conference)

If determined to be appropriate by Conciliation Services, or by order of the Court, Conciliation Services may conduct a Parenting Conference. The purpose of the non-confidential Parenting Conference is to assist the Court in determining the best interests of the child(ren) by providing information, and frequently including recommendations, with respect to the children's residential arrangements, the amount of time they spend with each parent, and how the parents might assume decision-making responsibility for their children.

The Conciliation Services Parenting Conference is a non-confidential process that identifies areas of agreement and significant issues in dispute regarding custody and/or parenting time. Parental concerns and parental fitness are assessed when necessary. The process consists of the following:

1. Initial Referral
During the court hearing the judge will refer the parties to Conciliation Services. After the court hearing, the parties need to report to Conciliation Services to complete paper work. The parties will then receive an Order to Appear and additional paperwork that will need to be returned at the appointment date.

2. Collateral Information
Child Protective Services, law enforcement records, and other relevant information may be reviewed. The questionnaires will be given to the parties when they report to Conciliation Services after the court hearing. Information from additional sources may be collected when deemed necessary. Any information given to the Court Conciliator by any party must be copied and given to the other party.

3. Appointments
The Parenting Conference typically includes a joint meeting with the parents and may include individual meetings with the parents and interviews and/or observations with the child(ren). Other parties involved with the family may be interviewed at the discretion of the Court Conciliator.

The parties may reach agreement on some or all of the parenting issues during the Parenting Conference. If the parties' agreement appears to be in the best interests of the child(ren), the Conciliator may recommend the agreement to the court. However, if the Conciliator has identified issues of concern, the Conciliator will address those issues in the report. The Conciliator may report impressions regarding areas of the disagreement as well as possible solutions. The dispute may require an assessment that could involve collecting information from outside sources and the report may include recommendations to the court.

4. Written Report
The goal of the written report is to provide sufficient information to the court for determining appropriate orders regarding custody and/or parenting time. In most cases, the report will address areas such as: Referral, Background, Areas of Agreement, Issues in Dispute, Summary of Parental Concerns, Impressions/Assessment, and Conclusions/Recommendations.

Typically, Conciliation Services will provide a report to the court within 65 days of the initial appointment date.

Parenting Counference Frequently Asked Questions