For Attorneys & Courts — Upper Cumberland PC

Appointments accepted

Rule 31 family mediation, including post-decree modification and contempt matters where mediation is ordered.

Parent educational seminar under T.C.A. § 36-6-408, in districts where certification is held.

Parenting coordination on a defined, enumerated delegation of authority, for a fixed term with a stated review date.

Appointment by agreed order, provided both parties are represented or both have expressly waived counsel in writing.

Not accepted

Open-ended delegations of authority, or any order permitting a coordinator to modify the parenting plan.

Custody evaluations, forensic assessments, guardian ad litem work, and any therapeutic role.

Any matter in which she, her firm, or the separate law practice at mtcrawford.com has represented or consulted with either party, or in which a conflict is reasonably apparent. A conflict check is run before acceptance.

Mediation where the statutory exception applies and the court has not addressed it, or where screening indicates mediation is unsafe.

Sample order language · parenting coordinator

IT IS ORDERED that ____________________ is appointed Parenting Coordinator in this
cause pursuant to the parties' Permanent Parenting Plan entered ____________, and
the Court finds the appointment to be in the best interest of the minor child(ren).

1. TERM. The appointment is for a term of ____ months from the date of entry,
   ending ____________, and terminates on that date unless extended by further
   order of this Court.

2. AUTHORITY DELEGATED. The Parenting Coordinator is authorized to resolve, and
   the parties shall comply with her determinations upon, the following matters
   only:
      a. times, places and manner of exchanges and transportation;
      b. scheduling of holiday, vacation and school-break parenting time within
         the terms of the Permanent Parenting Plan;
      c. participation in and transportation to extracurricular activities;
      d. the method, frequency and content protocols for communication between
         the parties, and between each party and the child(ren);
      e. minor temporary adjustments to the residential schedule not exceeding
         ____ days and not altering the aggregate parenting time of either party.

3. AUTHORITY WITHHELD. The Parenting Coordinator shall not modify the Permanent
   Parenting Plan, alter the designation of primary residential parent, alter the
   aggregate day allocation, decide child support or any financial matter between
   the parties, decide relocation, conduct a custody evaluation, provide therapy,
   or provide legal advice to either party. No attorney-client relationship arises
   between the Parenting Coordinator and either party.

4. DETERMINATIONS. Determinations shall issue in writing to each party separately
   and to counsel of record within seven business days of the conference, stating
   the matter decided and the authority relied upon. A determination is binding
   upon the parties unless and until modified by this Court. Either party may move
   the Court for review within ____ days of issuance.

5. REPORTS. The Parenting Coordinator shall report to the Court [upon request of
   the Court] [every ____ months], and shall serve each report on counsel of record
   and upon any self-represented party. Reports shall be confined to contacts made,
   matters raised, determinations issued with reasons, and factual observations of
   compliance. Reports shall contain no psychological opinion or evaluation.

6. NO CONFIDENTIALITY. The parties are advised that communications with the
   Parenting Coordinator are not confidential and may be disclosed to the Court.

7. COMMUNICATION. The Parenting Coordinator shall communicate with each party
   separately. No communication shall be addressed to both parties jointly, and no
   party's contact information shall be disclosed to the other party.

8. FEES. Fees shall be charged at the Parenting Coordinator's hourly rate and
   allocated ____% to Petitioner and ____% to Respondent, each party depositing a
   retainer of $________ within fourteen days of entry. Each party shall be billed
   and shall receive statements separately.

9. SAFETY. Where a protective order is in effect or a safety concern is reported,
   the Parenting Coordinator shall conduct all sessions separately and shall not
   require the parties to appear jointly.

10. WITHDRAWAL. The Parenting Coordinator may withdraw upon written notice to the
    Court and the parties where a conflict arises, where the appointment is no
    longer productive, or where a party's safety so requires.

ENTERED this ____ day of ______________, 20____.

                                        _______________________________
                                        JUDGE

Language for an order of reference to mediation and for a seminar attendance order is available on request; email court@uppercumberlandpc.com or use the referral form below.

Reports to the court

Rule 31 mediation report

States that mediation was conducted, the date, who attended, and whether the matter resolved in whole, in part or not at all. No content of the session, no characterisation of either party's conduct or willingness.

Coordinator report

Contact log, disputes raised, determinations made within the delegated authority with reasons, factual compliance observations, and any recommendation the order authorises. Copies go to both counsel and to any self-represented party, separately addressed.

Not included in any report

Psychological opinion, diagnosis, parenting fitness assessment, opinion on ultimate custody absent express authorisation, and verbatim transcripts of party communications.

Seminar certificate

Filed with the clerk in the county of the case, recording the party's name, dates attended and hours completed. No evaluative content.

Turnaround and availability

Response to a referral enquiry1 business day

Conflict check and acceptance or decline3 business days

Mediation scheduled from acceptance2–4 weeks

Expedited mediation where a hearing date compels iton request

Rule 31 report filed after session5 business days

Coordinator determination after conference7 business days

Seminar sessions offeredmonthly

Fees and allocation

Mediation: hourly, including preparation and drafting; divided equally unless the order directs otherwise; each party billed and collected from separately.

Coordination: hourly against a per-party retainer; statements itemised by task; allocation as the order of appointment directs.

Seminar: flat fee per parent.

PEMF: referrals compensated from the Divorcing Parent Education and Mediation Fund under Supreme Court Rule 38 are accepted for seminar and mediation, at the rates the Administrative Office of the Courts sets.

Current rate schedule is published on the fee and payment terms page and is stated in the engagement letter before any work begins.

Curriculum vitae and credentials

portrait — one plain professional photograph, supplied by the practice

Martelia “Marti” Crawford
Attorney at law · Neutral

Practice

Practising family law attorney in the Upper Cumberland, licensed in Tennessee. Separate law practice at mtcrawford.com, (931) 528-8442. Neutral services are provided through this office only, and never in a case connected to that practice.

Rule 31 training

46 hours of ADRC-approved family mediation training, including 4 hours of domestic violence screening and 6 hours of Tennessee family law. 6 hours of continuing education every two years.
status to be confirmed before publication — insert completion dates and ADRC listing number, or mark pending with a date

Rule 31 listing

Listed as a Rule 31 Family Mediator by the Alternative Dispute Resolution Commission.
status to be confirmed before publication — do not publish a listing number that is not currently held

Seminar certification

Parent education providers are certified district by district. Each district in which certification is held should be listed here by number, with the date of certification; districts where application is pending should be shown as pending with the date of application.
status to be confirmed before publication — list districts held and districts pending

Parenting coordination

Appointments accepted by court order or agreed order. Training and any qualification relied upon should be stated here with hours and dates.
status to be confirmed before publication

PEMF

Accepts referrals compensated from the Divorcing Parent Education and Mediation Fund under Supreme Court Rule 38, as a Qualified Neutral and Qualified Parenting Education Provider, subject to the approvals above.

Region

In person throughout the Upper Cumberland. Remote sessions by secure video statewide.

How to appoint, step by step

01

Send the referral form below, or email court@uppercumberlandpc.com with the county, court, docket number and service sought.

02

A conflict check is run against both parties and both firms, and acceptance or decline is confirmed in writing within three business days.

03

Availability for the proposed term is confirmed, together with the rate and the proposed allocation between the parties.

04

Insert the sample language above into the proposed order, enumerating the authority delegated and stating the term and review date.

05

Send the entered order. An engagement letter goes to each party separately, with the retainer request and the fee terms.

06

Each party is contacted individually to begin. Counsel are copied on procedural correspondence; parties are never copied on each other's.

Attorney referral

Professional list · attorneys only

Occasional notes on availability, new district certifications, changes to Rule 31 or Rule 38 practice, and seminar dates. Nothing about any case. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, and parties to a matter are never added.

Direct contact

Telephone and fax (931) 650-4058
court@uppercumberlandpc.com
Separate law practice: (931) 528-8442 · mtcrawford.com

Scope accepted, order language, reports, fees and credentials