Helpful information regarding Probate and Family Court's Category V

Helpful information for new applicants and new and current members of Probate and Family Court's Category V (Parenting Coordinator).

New applicants

Mediation requirement

The Probate and Family Court does not endorse a particular mediation program to meet the Category V application requirement. For you information, however, the following programs are offered annually for those who may be looking for this training:

  • Family Law Mediation Workshop offered through MCLE
  • Forty-Hour Mediation Trainings offered by MWI

Domestic violence training requirement

You should submit your application and all required supporting documentation except proof of attendance at the domestic violence training. Once your application is reviewed and approved, the domestic violence training will be scheduled.

New and current members of Category V

Length of membership on list

List members are approved and eligible for appointments as parenting coordinators for five years, as long as they are in compliance with the annual continuing education requirement and are not removed pursuant to the SJC’s Uniform Practice for Removal.

Continuing education requirements

Documentation of a program attended or viewed in accordance with continuing education requirements may be utilized to comply with those requirements for Category V OR for the Category E and/or Category F lists. The same program may not be used as continuing education for more than one category. You should retain a detailed program description or program brochure as documentation of any relevant program attended or viewed in 2019. The Administrative Office may require attendance at a specific program in addition to, or in lieu of, individual selections.

Approval of programs for continuing education requirements

If you know of a program which might be considered as an addition to the Approved Programs for Training Requirements list, a Request for Training Program Accreditation form is available. The sponsoring organization is required to submit the form and accompanying documentation to receive approval.

Contact

Date published: October 1, 2019

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