Stop Litigating. Start Parenting.
Cori L. McGuire, Lawyer Parenting Coordinator for High‑Conflict Families Across British Columbia
When every conversation turns into conflict, decisions stall, and court involvement makes things worse, families need structure, process, and steady guidance. Parenting Coordination offers a court‑recognized way forward when co‑parenting has become unmanageable. You don’t need to be sure this is the right fit. A brief, confidential conversation can help you decide. Book a confidential consultation.
Parenting Coordination for High‑Conflict Families: Serving All of British Columbia Remotely
If you are overwhelmed, exhausted, or worried about the impact of ongoing conflict on your children, you are not alone. Even capable, well‑intentioned parents can become stuck when communication breaks down and stress takes over.
After nearly 30 years in family law and 18 years as a Parenting Coordinator, I made a deliberate decision to step away from courtroom litigation because court processes often intensify conflict rather than resolve it.
Parenting Coordination offers a different path — one designed to contain conflict, support parental change, and help families function within existing court orders or parenting agreements.
Why Families Use Parenting Coordination
Families turn to Parenting Coordination when:
• Communication has collapsed
• Parenting decisions can’t wait
• Informal agreements no longer hold
• Court involvement has become frequent or inevitable
The goal is not perfection. The goal is predictability, containment, and forward movement — so children can stabilize.
What Parenting Coordination Is (and Is Not)
Parenting Coordination is a court‑recognized, child‑focused dispute‑resolution process that helps parents work within their existing parenting order or agreement. It is not therapy. It is not informal advice. It does not redesign parenting arrangements or re‑litigate the past.
Depending on the authority granted by court order or written agreement, Parenting Coordination may include:
• Structured conflict management and facilitation
• Coaching in communication, problem‑solving, and conflict containment
• Support for agreement‑building and voluntary behavioural change
• Mediation of parenting disputes
• Limited, binding determinations that implement existing terms
Parenting Coordination operates only when:
• A court order or written agreement appoints a Parenting Coordinator, and
• Parents sign a Parenting Coordination participation agreement defining authority and limits
Most of the work focuses on non‑coercive coaching, facilitation, and agreement‑building.
Binding determinations occur only where expressly authorized and only to implement existing orders or agreements. When determinations are required, the Parenting Coordinator acts in a strict, rule‑bound manner.
The Parenting Coordinator has no enforcement powers, except fee reapportionment where authorized.
If the process becomes unsafe, coercive, or unworkable — including non‑participation or family violence — the matter is returned to court.
Serving Families Across British Columbia — Remotely
All Parenting Coordination services are provided by telephone, email, and secure online platforms, allowing families to participate:
• From anywhere
• Without sitting beside a co‑parent
• Without travel, added stress, or safety concerns
I work with families in Kelowna, Kamloops, Vancouver, Victoria, Prince George, and all rural communities throughout the province. Parents may be located anywhere in the world, provided their parenting order or agreement relies on British Columbia law.
Understanding Conflict — and Calming It
High‑conflict parenting is not a failure of character.
It is often the predictable result of stress, trauma, and an overwhelmed nervous system. When parents are stuck in fight‑or‑flight, problem‑solving shuts down and every issue feels urgent.
My refined Parenting Coordination process works because it:
• Reduces emotional escalation
• Creates external containment
• Allows decisions to be made without constant negotiation
You can learn more in the free Resource Library, including:
How PCs Manage High Conflict and
How PCs Work to Keep You Out of Court.
These resources are available whether or not you retain my services. This Resource Library is intended to support understanding, not to exercise authority.
When Earlier Help Can Make a Difference
Parenting Coordination is often used once conflict is entrenched — but earlier support can prevent years of litigation.
If you are noticing:
• Increasing hostility
• Repeated disputes over routine issues
• Difficulty implementing an existing parenting plan
Early guidance and education may help stabilize things before court involvement becomes necessary.
Taking the Next Step
If communication is breaking down and decisions can’t wait, help is available.
A brief conversation can help you understand:
• Whether Parenting Coordination is appropriate
• What legal authority is required
• How the process works
• What alternatives may exist
You do not need to be certain before calling.
Start with information. End with a plan.
Book a confidential consultation.
Learn how a Parenting Coordinator is appointed.
Judicial overviews and model language are available on the For the Judge page.
Detailed explanations of the process can be found on the Method and Services pages.
Cori L. McGuire Law Corporation's Contact Form
Have a question or need to schedule a free phone consult with Cori L. McGuire Law Corporation at (250)717-0926? Fill out this contact form and we'll get back to you as soon as possible.
Client Testimonials
Children only get one childhood. Not two. Not a redo. And while the adults are locked in conflict, that single, irreplaceable childhood is quietly being consumed by stress, loyalty binds, and adult problems they were never meant to carry.
