In re Amendments to the Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure; New Rules for Qualified and Court-Appointed Parenting Coordinators

Summary

The Supreme Court of Florida adopted amendments to Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.742 concerning parenting coordination and adopted new Rules for Qualified and Court-Appointed Parenting Coordinators. The opinion also amended and adopted related family law forms, including forms for reporting emergencies and requesting status conferences, with the amendments effective immediately.

Holdings

1. The Court adopted the proposed amendments to Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.742, including requirements concerning circuit qualification processes, removal of disqualified coordinators, limitations on substantive decision-making and recommendations, emergency communications, status conferences, discovery, and parenting coordination sessions.
2. The Court adopted new Rules for Qualified and Court-Appointed Parenting Coordinators establishing standards concerning applicability, competence, integrity, impartiality, conflicts of interest, confidentiality, fees, records, safety, responsibility to courts, and discipline.
3. The amended and new rules and forms became effective immediately upon release of the opinion.

Questions Presented

1. Whether the Supreme Court of Florida should amend Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.742 concerning parenting coordination.
2. Whether the Court should adopt new rules establishing ethical, professional, and disciplinary standards for qualified and court-appointed parenting coordinators.
3. Whether related family-law forms governing referral, coordinator responses, emergency reports, and status-conference requests should be amended or adopted.

Disposition

approved