The process of creating a parenting plan in Massachusetts’s family courts will once again require tens of thousands of parents to enroll in a co-parenting class. This requirement, which has been in place for divorcing parents in the state for the past 30 years, was temporarily suspended by Chief Justice John D. Casey of the commonwealth’s Probate and Family Court two and a half years ago due to concerns about quality control and the impact on parents. However, following the suspension, a standardized four-hour online course named “Two Families Now” will now be mandatory for any parents who are unable to reach an agreement on a parenting plan, regardless of whether they are divorcing or were never married. Couples seeking uncontested divorces will be exempt from this requirement.
The decision to reintroduce this course was made with the aim of assisting parents in navigating the complexities of custody and parenting time disputes by educating them on the detrimental effects of parental conflict on children and providing them with tools to mitigate such conflicts. The course, developed by the Oregon-based educational technology company Trifoia, has been updated to be inclusive of diverse family structures, including LGBTQ+ families.
While many family law attorneys have welcomed the reinstatement of the course, some have emphasized the importance of considering exceptions, especially in cases involving domestic violence survivors. Judges now have the authority to grant exemptions based on specific circumstances, such as language barriers, incarceration, or histories of domestic violence that make parental communication unsafe. Not meant for high-conflict settings, the course admits it has limitations for people who have experienced domestic violence.
Despite the positive reception from some attorneys, concerns remain about the course’s one-size-fits-all approach and its potential implications for survivors of domestic violence. The course’s emphasis on promoting parental cooperation and communication may not align with the needs and safety concerns of individuals in abusive relationships. Additionally, there are calls for the course to be offered in languages other than English and Spanish to accommodate a more diverse range of participants, though this expansion is not currently in progress.
Overall, the reintroduction of the “Two Families Now” course signifies a significant change in the family court proceedings in Massachusetts, introducing a mandatory educational component aimed at improving parental communication and conflict resolution for the well-being of children involved in custody disputes.