In Connecticut, parents involved in a divorce must complete a Parenting Education Program if they have children under age 18.
The program is designed to educate parents on the developmental stages of children, adjustment of children to parental separation, dispute resolution and conflict management for parents, guidelines for visitation, stress reduction in children and cooperative parenting.
A few points:
Parents may attend together but are not required to do so.
Online courses do not fulfill the requirement since they do not provide interactive participation through questions and answers and role playing scenarios.
The Notice of Automatic Orders requires that parents complete the program within sixty days of the commencement of the case. Nothwithstanding I encourage parents to complete the program as soon as possible so they may put into play what they have learned.
Some judges are fining parents for not completing the class on time.
Completion of the Parenting Education Program is amongst the “best interest” factors a judge may consider when deciding custody and visitation issues.