Parenting Coordinator Program

As a Parenting Coordinator, I help families manage custody-related challenges by fostering clear communication, reducing future conflict, and guiding cooperative decision making prior to intervention.  I work with parents to implement and clarify parenting plans, resolve disputes constructively, and always keep the child's best interest as the top priority.

Dr. Michele LaCouture is a licensed therapist, collaborative divorce professional, mediator, and custody and parenting time evaluator who practices in Ridgewood, N.J.  She conducts parenting coordination, family and divorce mediation, psychotherapy, and forensic mental health evaluations. Dr. LaCouture has served as a custody and parenting time exert in numerous counties.

Mr. Kaplan has been practicing family law for over 35 years.  He has served as a Parenting Coordinating since 2013. Mr. Kaplan is often appointed by the court as Parenting Coordinator, Guardian ad litem, Mediator, and attorney/guardian for minors with special needs. Mr. Kaplan is a R.1:40 Mediator. He is a collaborative Family Law Attorney. Mr. Kaplan has extensive experience in domestic violence matters due to his close association with Alternatives to Domestic Violence. Mr. Kaplan's broad range of experience in all aspects of family law make him uniquely qualified to serve as a parenting coordinator.

Mary Ann graduated from Rutgers University with honors and Seton Hall University School of Law Cum Laude. She was admitted to practice in the US District Court for the District of NJ, the NJ Supreme Court, and the US Supreme Court. She is a certified matrimonial attorney and was elected as a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers in 2009, where she served on the Board of Managers.  She is a trained arbitrator, mediator and collaborative law attorney.

I have been practicing NJ Family Law exclusively since 2008 and offer my mediation and litigation experience to guide high-conflict co-parents.  I focus on facilitating communication and dispute resolution, always prioritizing the child's best interest to reduce unnecessary litigation.  

Ms. Hartz devotes her practice to family law, including mediations, serving as a parent coordinator for high conflict cases.

Ms. Burke has been practicing exclusively family law since 2014.  In addition to acting as a Parenting Coordinator and mediator, Ms. Burke also regularly appears in court on behalf of her own client.  She volunteers as an Early Settlement Panelist in Essex County and is a member of the Essex County Bar Association.  Ms. Burke can meet in person or via Zoom.

Experienced attorney and mediator with nearly five decades of legal practice in civil and matrimonial law before juries.  Skilled in trial advocacy, mediation, and arbitration, with a reputation for efficiency, reliability, and professionalism.  Former certified teacher of English and Spanish with strong communication and interpersonal skills. 

I have been an attorney for over 15 years and have devoted the majority of my career to Family /Matrimonial Matters. I am on the Roster of Economic Mediators for Bergen County, serve as a Panelist for the Early Settlement Panel, and have been a Guardian ad Litem for the Court. 

Providing parenting coordination assistance for parents in high conflict relationships so they can find solutions for ongoing parenting issues. 32 years of family law experience. 

As a Parent Coordinator, I utilize my professional (Family Law Attorney and Mediator) and personal (Foster Parent) experience to assist couples in maintaining focus on their children's needs when addressing disputes over custodial issues. I aim to equip people with the tools to objectively analyze and resolve disagreements to reduce conflict.