Instructions for Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure Form 12.984(b), Response by Parenting
Coordinator (07/14)
INSTRUCTIONS FOR FLORIDA FAMILY LAW RULES OF PROCEDURE
FORM 12.984(b)
RESPONSE BY PARENTING COORDINATOR (07/14)
When should this form be used?
A person appointed as a parenting coordinator must accept or decline the appointment under
Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.742(e). If you accept the appointment, you must
complete paragraphs 1(a) and 2 and sign it. If you decline the appointment, you must complete
only paragraph 1(b) and sign the form. This form should be typed or printed in black ink.
Important Consideration Before Responding.
A Qualified Parenting Coordinator or other licensed mental health professional under Chapter
490 or 491, Florida Statutes, shall abide by the ethical and other professional standards imposed
by his or her licensing authority, certification board, or both, as applicable.
A person who is not a Qualified Parenting Coordinator or a licensed mental health professional
under Chapter 490 or 491, Florida Statutes, shall not accept an appointment to serve as
parenting coordinator in a matter that presents an apparent or undisclosed conflict of interest.
A conflict of interest arises when any relationship between the parenting coordinator and either
party compromises or appears to compromise the parenting coordinator’s ability to serve. The
burden of disclosure of any potential conflict of interest rests on the parenting coordinator.
Disclosure shall be made as soon as practical after the parenting coordinator becomes aware of
the potential conflict of interest. If a parenting coordinator makes an appropriate disclosure of
a conflict of interest or a potential conflict of interest, he or she may serve if all parties agree.
However, if a conflict of interest substantially impairs a parenting coordinator's ability to serve,
the parenting coordinator shall decline the appointment or withdraw regardless of the express
agreement of the parties.
A parenting coordinator shall not provide any services to either party that would impair the
parenting coordinator's ability to be neutral.
What should I do next?
After completing and signing this form, you must file the original with the clerk of the circuit
court in the county in which the action is pending and keep a copy for your records.
You must mail or hand-deliver a copy of this form to the attorney(s) for the parents or, if not
represented by an attorney, to the parents.
Where can I look for more information?
Before proceeding, you should read “General Information for Self-Represented Litigants”
found at the beginning of these forms. For more information, see section 61.125; Florida
Statutes, Florida Family Law Rule of Procedure 12.742, Rules for Qualified and Court Appointed
Parenting Coordinators and the Order of Referral to Parenting Coordinator, Florida Family Law
Rules of Procedure Form 12.984(a).