In Maryland, the Court can appoint or the parties can agree in writing that a parenting coordinator is authorized to make decisions regarding minor children.  However, there is a limit as to the extent of the parents’ decision-making authority that can delegated to a parenting coordinator. 

Maryland Rule 9-205.2(g) states that a parenting coordinator may “decide post-judgment disputes by making minor, temporary modifications to child access provisions ordered by the court if (A) the judgment or post-judgment order of the court authorizes such decision making, and (B) the parties have agreed in writing or on the record that the post-judgment parenting coordinator may do so”.

As such, the parents may delegate to the parenting coordinator the authority to make a one-time or minor changes to the access schedule and one-time or minor deviations from the access schedule to accommodate special events or circumstances.  Examples of such temporary or minor changes would include the following: (1) changing the time of the pick-up of the minor child from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; (2) changing a parent’s access time to accommodate a special event or circumstances, such as to attend a graduation party for a cousin or a funeral for a relative; or (3) temporary change a mid-week visit from Tuesday to Wednesday.         

However, the court or the parents may NOT delegate the authority to make material or permanent changes to the parenting coordinator.  For example, the following delegations of authority to the parenting coordinator are prohibited: (1) having the parenting coordinator make material and permanent changes to the access schedule, such as granting a parent three more days of access per month or permanently changing a mid-week visit from Tuesday to Wednesday; (2) choosing a pediatrician for the child;  (3) making medical decisions on behalf of the minor child; (4) deciding what school the child will attend; or (5) choosing a daycare provider for the child.