Senate Bill No. 865 Summary

• Amends Missouri law to establish a parenting coordinator system for high-conflict family cases involving dissolution of marriage, legal separation, paternity, guardianship, or modification where minor children are involved.

• Courts may appoint parenting coordinators (licensed mental health professionals or attorneys with family mediation qualifications) by agreement of parties to help implement parenting plans and resolve disputes regarding parenting time and decisions.

• Parenting coordinators have authority to resolve implementation disputes and authorize temporary departures from parenting plans, but cannot modify custody, visitation, or support orders, with all decisions subject to party objection within 15 days.

• Appointments are limited to 2 years unless extended by court order with party agreement, and parties must have financial means to pay fees allocated by the court based on relative post-judgment incomes.

• Parenting coordinators receive qualified immunity from liability for decisions made within their scope of duties unless willful and wanton, and cannot testify about the coordination process except in fee collection actions.