The Best Parenting Coordinators of BC

I am a family lawyer practicing in BC and am often asked about the best parenting coordinators in BC. Aside from drawing on my own experiences and the files I have with some parenting coordinators, I also asked numerous other family lawyers about their experiences and recommendations for parenting coordinators.

I complied a list of the best parenting coordinators based on those reviews. But before you go into this list, you should first decide if you want to choose a family lawyer or a psychologist/counsellor as your parenting coordinator. This perhaps is one of the most important questions to ask before picking the right individual. Let me explain that below but first note:

• I am not getting paid by anyone to recommend the below individuals.
• My blog posts are about access to justice and free information for the public. What we family lawyers can write online is subject to many restrictions and scrutiny. I understand that I am taking bold steps with some of my content, but the interests of the public and access to information (without having to pay $300- $500 for a consultation to get some names) is more important than being afraid to write. However, I need to tell you that the recommendations below are the subjective outlook of some family lawyers; you should not 100% rely on them and should always do your own research to make sure the parenting coordinator you choose is the right person for the job. 
• If the name of a parenting coordinator you use is not on this list, that does not mean they are not great or the best. It means I probably haven’t had the pleasure of meeting or hearing about them. 
• To learn about the parenting coordinator process and what they can/cannot do, click here. 

Should I Choose a Psychologist or a Family Lawyer as My Parenting Coordinator?

When you go to the Parenting Coordinator Roster Society of BC, you will see all of the parenting coordinators of BC. Some are senior family lawyers, and some are psychologists/counsellors. To decide on which type to choose, consider the following:

• If the conflict in your custody case revolves around which school the child should attend, extracurricular activities, scheduling difficulties, third-party caregivers, etc., you should probably go with a family lawyer. This is because these issues are more legal than others, and there is a case precedent/law on them that a psychologist or counsellor may not fully know about. A prime example is choosing the school the child needs to attend. If you had to litigate this issue in court, you would have to follow and address a legal test that applies to schooling and choice of school. That requires extensive experience from a senior family lawyer who is familiar with the law and can use it in your case.
• If the conflict in your custody case comes from a lack of proper communication, psychological needs of the child, unified parenting or parental disputes, then a psychologist or counsellor may be a better fit.

If your custody dispute does not involve many psychological aspects, I recommend senior family lawyers to assist with parenting coordination. This is because a parenting coordinator’s decision can be challenged through the courts, and the courts apply case precedent and law to decide whether the parenting coordinator made the right decision. In-depth familiarity with family law is always an asset.

Recommended Parenting Coordinators of BC

Here is a list of the best parenting coordinators who are most recommended in BC by the family lawyers I know (including myself) in no specific order:

Arlene Henry, QC – Family Lawyer – Vancouver

Irene has made it a goal never to step inside a courtroom to litigate custody cases; I believe she hasn’t in over 30 years. Focusing her energy on out-of-court dispute resolution has made her a prominent and respected member of the Roster. She teaches mediation and arbitration courses at the Continuing Legal Education of BC (which I attended – she was also a great teacher). She firmly believes in giving children a voice and having them participate in the dispute resolution process. She will do everything she can to get the parents to reach an agreement before deciding on their behalf. To find out more about her, click here. Her hourly rate is around $400 per hour but double-check with her to make sure. Also, note she may have a waiting list for parenting coordination cases.

William Storey — Family Lawyer – Kitsilano

Unlike some other parenting coordinators, William actually loves to do parenting coordination and enjoys the process immensely. He has a very soft demeanour and a big smile that will put you at ease no matter your circumstances. He listens to your issues intently and takes his time getting to know you, your child and your case. He is a prominent family lawyer focusing on children and one of Canada’s most famous child abduction lawyers. He was the parenting coordinator on one of my files, and I had a chance to review his procedures and read his decisions which I found very thorough, thoughtful and fair. He has sometimes acted as a child’s advocate in high-conflict cases and focuses his practice on children and their rights. I am unsure how much he charges per hour, so you may want to double-check. You can contact William by clicking here.

Craig Neville — Family Lawyer – Downtown Vancouver

Like the other parenting coordinators recommended here, Craig has over 30 years of experience as a family lawyer. He focuses his practice on mediation, collaborative law and parenting coordination. He is well respected by numerous lawyers, judges and the legal community. He is soft-spoken and fair and always focuses on getting agreements between the parents and coming up with long-term plans in the children’s best interests. I do not know how much his hourly rate is. You can contact Craig by clicking here. 

Alison Jones — Clinical Counsellor – West Vancouver

Alison is highly experienced and very active in providing counselling and therapy sessions for separated parents, alienated children and reunification counselling. She is an adjunct professor at the University of British Columbia, teaching psychology. She would be a good bet for parents who have communication issues with each other, their children, and in high conflict cases. I am not sure about her hourly rate. You can contact her by clicking here.

There are our recommended parenting coordinators of BC. It is always best to discuss the details and nature of your custody case with a family lawyer and obtain their recommendation on whether a parenting coordinator is suitable for you and, if so, who is the right fit. Call us at 604-974-9529 or get in touch for a consultation.