Using Online Tools to Streamline Communications Between Co-Parents and Simplify Custody Case Management

Communication problems continue to present challenges for co-parents, attorneys, and the court system. These challenges result in additional strain on children and families. Currently, a majority of co-parent communication takes place via e-mail and texting. However, these forms of communication are often unreliable, can be easily manipulated, and present admissibility concerns. Furthermore, they have the potential to ignite conflict rather than minimize it. This presentation will advise family law professionals of communication technology that is increasingly being ordered by courts and recommended by attorneys in custody cases. Participants will learn how they, as practitioners, can simplify and strengthen their knowledge of the communication between their clients and their clients' respective co-parents through the use of online tools. Each participant will receive examples of court orders currently being utilized to mandate the ways in which parents will make use of such tools in an effort to increase the effectiveness of the parents' communication with one another. A related appellate case from Kentucky will be reviewed.

Presented by Danielle Kestnbaum, this program will benefit attorneys who practice family law.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify the online tools that are increasingly being recommended by attorneys and ordered by judges to communicate and document shared parenting needs
2. Recognize evidentiary and reliability issues related to online communication tools utilized by co-parents
3. Leverage online communication tools to help assess and improve co-parent communication