When Can a Parenting Coordinator's Decision Be Overturned?
Parenting coordinators play an important role in high-conflict family disputes. They step in where parents remain deadlocked — working through day-to-day disagreements and implementing child-focused strategies outside the courtroom. When the parties cannot reach agreement, parenting coordinators have the authority to issue binding decisions that set parenting arrangements in the best interests of the children. But that authority has limits. A recent British Columbia decision, F.K.L. v. D.M.A.T. 2025 BCSC 364, is an illustration of where those limits lie — and what happens when a parenting coordinator oversteps.
The Case in Brief - F.K.L. v. D.M.A.T. 2025 BCSC 364
The parents in this case had been separated for nearly 8 years before formal proceedings began. Their ongoing conflict led to the appointment of a parenting coordinator under a Parenting Coordination Agreement. After the original parenting coordinator withdrew, a new parenting coordinator was appointed and quickly issued two decisions: one reallocating parenting time on "School Not in Session" days (such as PA days and snow days), and another that went further — directing the conduct of the maternal grandfather and imposing an "interim order."
The mother applied to the court to have both decisions set aside and the parenting coordinator terminated.
Decision
Under British Columbia's Family Law Act (FLA), section 19(1) gives the court authority to change or set aside a parenting coordinator's decision if the they acted outside their authority or made an error of law. In this case, the court found both decisions exceeded the parenting coordinator's scope:
Decisions must align with governing court orders. The parenting coordinator's authority is confined by the FLA and the Family Law Act Regulation (FLAR). A parenting coordinator cannot vary existing parenting arrangements contrary to the terms of a governing court order
Parenting coordinators cannot issue conduct orders. The court found no legislative, contractual, or case law authority permitting a parenting coordinator to impose "conduct orders" on parties or third parties (like grandparents). The parenting coordinator's role under section 15(6) of the FLA is limited to assisting with the implementation of existing agreements or orders regarding parenting time — not creating new obligations.
Impartiality is non-negotiable. The court terminated the parenting coordinator's appointment. The parenting coordinator's communications had exhibited a tone that the court found reflected hostility toward the mother and maternal grandfather, undermining the trust and neutrality essential to the role.
Takeaways
Parenting coordinators serve a valuable function. They are meant to resolve everyday parenting disputes efficiently and keep families out of court. But their decisions must stay within the four corners of the governing agreement or order.
There are remedies when a parenting coordinator oversteps. Courts retain the authority to review and set aside parenting coordinator decisions. If you believe a parenting coordinator has exceeded their mandate or acted without impartiality, the law provides a path to challenge those decisions.
The standard for termination of the parenting coordinator is high. Courts recognize that removing a parenting coordinator mid-process is disruptive, but where neutrality has broken down, termination is warranted and necessary to protect the integrity of the process.
Feel free to reach out to vli@mpllp.com or connect if you have questions about parenting coordination or family law questions generally.
Written by Vivian Merklinger and Samantha Del Core
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