Helpful information about the Parent Education Program:

If you and your spouse are in the process of divorce and you have a minor child or children, participation in a Parent Education Program is mandated by the court. 

Some of the provisions of Standing Order 1-03 issued by the Chief Justice of the Probate and Family Court, effective August 1, 2003, are summarized as follows: 

- The interests of the minor children of parties appearing before it would be well served by educating their parents about children's emotional needs and the effects of divorce on child behavior and development. 

- All parties to any action for divorce in which there are minor children shall attend and participate in an approved Parent Education Program. This requirement applies to both joint petitions and complaints for divorce, and as ordered by a judge of this court in an action to establish paternity, complaints for modification or contempt, or in any case involving visitation, custody or support of minor children.

- Attendance at an approved program is mandatory for parties to such action unless waived by the court. Parties must register with an approved provider within sixty (60) days of service of the original complaint upon the original defendant and must attend the next available session. 

- No pre-trial conference or trial will be held by the court until the court receives a certificate of attendance from an approved program for each party, or until the court waives the requirement. An uncontested divorce hearing may be scheduled pending attendance if the parties file confirmations of registration with the court and so long as both parties complete the program prior to the hearing. A pre-trial conference in a contested case may be similarly scheduled so long as the parties complete the program prior to the conference.

- The court may waive the attendance requirement upon motion, with notice, for one or both parties.  Waivers will only be granted upon a demonstrable showing of chronic and severe violence which negates safe parental communication; language barriers; institutionalization or other unavailability of a party; unavailability of a program in the county where the original divorce was filed; failure of the other party to complete a program; or where justice otherwise indicates. 

- Sanctions for failure to register with an approved program within sixty (60) days of service of the original complaint upon the original defendant may be imposed by the court.

- The parties shall each pay $65.00 to the program in advance of the seminar to offset the cost of materials and facilitators.

- A party may pay a reduced fee of $5.00 to the provider if that party has submitted and had allowed an "Affidavit of Indigency and Request for Waiver." This form...is available at the Registry of the Probate and Family Court. The party must submit a copy of this form to the provider when registering for a program at a reduced fee of $5.00.