Our Services

Purpose:
Co-Parenting Services is a structured, educational service designed to improve parents’ ability to work together in support of their children. It is a not medically necessary treatment and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or manage a mental health disorder. Instead, it focuses on strengthening co-parenting functioning and reducing conflict that impacts children.

Focus Areas:

• Improving parent-to-parent communication

• Reducing children’s exposure to conflict

• Developing healthier interaction patterns

• Supporting effective problem-solving related to parenting

• Increasing emotional awareness and regulation in co-parenting interactions

Nature of the Service:

• Goal-oriented and parenting-focused

• Educational and skill-building in nature, with therapeutic guidance

• Not individual psychotherapy for mental health diagnosis or treatment

• Not a substitute for individual mental health treatment when needed

Role of the Therapist:

• Facilitates structured discussions and skill development

• Helps parents identify and shift unhelpful interaction patterns

• Does not make custody or parenting time decisions

• Does not conduct evaluations or investigations

• Does not provide opinions regarding legal determinations

Appropriate When:

• Parents struggle with communication but are able to participate safely

• Conflict is impacting the children

• A court has recommended or ordered parenting-focused intervention

• The goal is improving co-parenting functioning rather than treating a mental health condition

Purpose:
A Parenting Plan Evaluation , also known as a custody evaluation, is a structured assessment designed to assist the court in determining parenting arrangements that serve the best interests of the child(ren). This service is evaluative, not therapeutic, and is focused on gathering information, observing parent-child interactions, and providing recommendations regarding parenting time and decision-making.

Focus Areas:

• Assessing each parent’s strengths, needs, and parenting practices

• Understanding the child(ren)’s adjustment, needs, and relationships with each parent

• Evaluating communication and co-parenting patterns

• Observing parent-child interactions in structured settings

• Identifying potential barriers to successful parenting arrangements

Nature of the Service:

• Assessment-based and fact-finding in nature

• Not therapy, coaching, or skill-building

• Does not provide treatment or interventions

• Does not replace legal advice or court decisions

Role of the Evaluator:

• Collects information from parents, children (age-appropriate), and collateral contacts (e.g., teachers, therapists)

• Uses structured interviews, questionnaires, and observations to assess parenting and child needs

• Provides written recommendations to the court regarding parenting time, decision-making, and co-parenting arrangements

• Maintains neutrality and does not advocate for either parent

• Does not implement or enforce parenting plans

Appropriate When:

• A court requests an evaluation to guide parenting arrangements

• Parents have unresolved disputes regarding custody or parenting time

• There is a need for neutral, fact-based recommendations to support the child’s best interests

• The focus is assessment rather than treatment

A parenting time expeditor is to resolve parenting time disputes by enforcing, interpreting, clarifying, and addressing circumstances not specifically addressed by an existing parenting time order and, if appropriate, to make a determination as to whether the existing parenting time order has been violated. A parenting time expeditor may be appointed to resolve on a onetime parenting time dispute or to provide ongoing parenting time dispute resolution services.

According to MN Statute 518.1751, under the request of either party or upon the court’s own motion, the court may appointment a parenting time expeditor to resolve parenting time disputes that occur under a parenting time order while a matter is pending under chapter 257 or 518D, or after a decree is entered.

Like the parenting time expeditor, the parenting consultant is tasked with assisting parents in parenting time disputes. The parenting consultant has an added component of coaching. The parenting consultants role is to help facilitate a mediated process to assist the parents in learning how to manage ongoing conflict effectively without a qualified neutral. This is a non-confidential process, agreed upon by the parties and then appointed by the court. This process is focused on the best interest of the minor children.

We provide mediation services under the jurisdiction of Rule 114 of the Minnesota General Rule of Practice and Rule 8.8 Alternative Dispute Resolution in North Dakota. Both define mediation as a process in with a neutral mediator facilitates communication between parties to assist in reaching decisions regarding their dispute in a voluntary way. Both states maintain ADR rosters who are Qualified Neutrals and must comply with the appropriate code of ethics.

Mediation can involve a variety of topics relating to family law. A mediator may not impose his or her judgment into the case and must remain neutral. Mediators at Superior Mediation can be used to help resolve issues such as divorce dissolution matters, parenting plan development, child custody, and any family-related matters.

Some of the advantages of using ADR to resolve your dispute include:

• ADR can be speedier. A dispute often can be resolved in a matter of months, even weeks, through ADR; whereas, a lawsuit can take years.

• ADR is often less expensive.

• ADR allows for more control of the outcome to a dispute.

• The process is confidential and private.

• ADR fosters cooperation between parties by allowing the parties to work together to resolve the dispute. This can produce more lasting agreements.

• ADR is often less stressful than going to trial.

Some of the disadvantages to using ADR to resolve your dispute include:

• ADR may not be suitable for every dispute.

• If the process is binding, the parties normally give up more court protections, including a decision by a judge or jury, and appellate review.

• ADR may not be effective if it takes place before the parties have sufficient information to resolve the dispute.

• The Neutral may charge a fee for services. If the dispute is not resolved through an ADR process, the parties may then face the usual costs of going to court.

• Parties should be mindful to not let a Statute of Limitation (sets the maximum time after an event during which legal proceedings may begin) run while a dispute is in an ADR process.

Scheduling: If it is determined that moving forward with the mediation process is in the best interest of the parties, then the agreement to mediate, including fee schedules, are signed prior to the process beginning. Mediation will not begin without the deposit being paid in full.