Episode Description

High-conflict parents often fight over their kids throughout their divorce, and for years afterward.  They become "frequent flyers" in the court system, embroiling their kids in ongoing legal battles that drain both parents' resources and cause enormous anxiety for their children. 

Parenting coordinators are specially-trained divorce professionals who work with parents to resolve their conflicts quickly, efficiently, and OUTSIDE of the court system.  Yet, because parenting coordination is so new in the world of family law, people often misunderstand what parenting coordination is, and who it can help.

In this episode, Dr. Jennifer Lavin, and Dr. Gail Petrich both discuss their roles as parenting coordinators and how they work with high-conflict parents to decide their parenting issues and keep them out of court.

Show Notes

About Jennifer
Dr. Jennifer Lavin is the principal attorney of Jennifer L. Lavin, P.C. Jennifer focuses her practice exclusively on divorce and family law matters. Jennifer is a divorce and family law mediator in Cook County, and a fellow with the Collaborative Law Institute of Illinois. She's also a court-appointed child representative guardian ad litem and parenting coordinator in Cook County. As a child of divorced parents, a former college professor, and a litigant in her own divorce, Jennifer has a unique understanding of, and approach to, the divorce process that provides a comprehensive education for her clients regarding how their family law matters stand to impact themselves and their children. 

Where to Connect with Jennifer
You can find Dr. Lavin on Facebook at Jennifer L. Lavin, PC, on LinkedIn at Dr. Jennifer Rexroat Lavin,  or on her website Lavin Family Law 

About Gail
Dr. Gail Petrich has been an attorney and a psychologist for over 25 years. She focuses her practice exclusively on divorce and family law matters. She has many years of experience as a litigator and guardian ad litem, a parenting coordinator, a mediator, a co-parenting coach, a custody evaluator, and a divorce coach in litigation, mediation and collaborative divorce. Dr. Petrich is also a Collaborative Law attorney and Collaborative child specialist, a co-parenting group class leader, and a family, individual, child and adolescent therapist. Dr. Petrich helps families stay out of court whenever possible. For families already embroiled in the court process, she helps reduce the conflict so there's less harm to children. Families, even those who are in litigation, can learn as much about communication and negotiation as possible to take their conflict out of court. 

Where to Connect with Gail
You can find Dr. Petrich on LinkedIn at Dr. Gail Petrich and on her website Gail Petrich

Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach and Consultant, Lawyer, Author, and Speaker who is dedicated to helping people make the best decisions possible for themselves, their families, and their future - especially in stressful times. You can check out Karen's videos on YouTube.

You can connect with Karen on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on her own website at karencovy.com.