New parental coordination program

The Projet de Coordination Parentale (PCP) is an alternative method of conflict resolution focused both on family law and mental health. The project offers an assessment of the family dynamic, coordination and case management, and conflict management, and it provides recommendations for separated parents who experience severe and persistent conflict. The main goal is to offer aid to parents by clarifying the content of a final judgment rendered, to enforce and apply it, and to also bring necessary modifications with the consent of the parties involved.  

It will also ensure that meaningful and healthy parent-child relationships are re-established and developed. It will also help parents function more effectively in their co-parenting approach by providing coaching, psychoeducation, communication, and conflict resolution techniques. These tools will aim to improve parenting skills and collaborative interaction. In case of an impasse, and in accordance with the parental agreement and mandate given by the court, recommendations will be submitted to lawyers and the Superior Court judge assigned to the case. 

In more detail, the program includes:  

• One Superior Court judge who will accompany the family from the beginning to the end of the parenting coordination process; 
• Lawyers that will use a collaborative approach and advise their clients based on the best interests of the children involved; 
• A professional trained in parenting coordination that will help parents apply or modify the final judgment in effect; 
• A mandatory group co-parenting program consisting of three two-hour sessions that parents must attendwith the parent coordinator’s intervention; 
• A mandatory participation of the parents in a research project led by Dr. Karine Poitras, a psychologist at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. 

To participate in the program, the following conditions must be met: 

• Both parents need to be represented by lawyers; 
• A final judgment needs to have been rendered; 
• An application for a variation order for custody or access rights (or parenting time) or an application for parental authority in compliance with section 604 of the Civil code of Quebec must have been submitted; 
• The lawyers must have explained the program to their clients and have completed the different required schedules such as a joint application, consents, registration to the Programme Coparentalité et Communication. (The required schedules can be accessed on the site of the Superior Court and the Barreau de Montréal); 
• The schedules must be filled out and submitted to the Superior Court clerk’s office in the district of Montreal. 

For more information about the program please visit the following article published on the Barreau du Québec’s website :https://www.barreau.qc.ca/fr/nouvelle/avis-public/nouveau-projet-coordination-parentale-offert  

Me Gianina Fuschini

Alepin Gauthier Avocats Inc.  

This column contains general legal information and should not replace legal advice from a lawyer or notary who will consider the specifics of your situation.