A Special Master is a professional appointed by the court to help resolve disputes during and after high-conflict divorce and custody cases. The majority of Special Masters are experienced family law attorneys or mental health professionals specializing in the treatment of court-involved families. Effective Special Masters have years of experience working with families who are navigating family court litigation and resolving the types of conflict that repeatedly arise in divorce and custody matters.
Special Masters are a cost-effective solution for people who find themselves frequently dealing with circumstances that force them to return to court. Whether it is a co-parent who constantly violates court orders or an ex-spouse who excessively seeks to involve the court in minor disagreements, a Special Master can step in and resolve disputes without the financial strain of hiring an attorney and getting a hearing with your commissioner or judge.
In addition to the financial benefit, Special Masters can issue decisions and recommendations much faster than the court. This can be especially important when the disagreements impact the wellbeing of your children. Without a Special Master you may wait months to hire an attorney, file documents, schedule a hearing, appear before the court, and then await the commissioner or judge’s decision. A Special Master will typically issue their decision within 1-2 weeks, or even 1-2 days depending on the specifics of the dispute.
The Special Master’s decision making power will be clearly outlined in the order appointing them. The scope of their appointment will typically be tailored to your specific needs, but generally they will have the authority to make decisions on co-parenting or financial issues that are as effective as court orders when made and continue in effect unless modified or set aside by the court. Some examples of issues that can be resolved by a Special Master include; conflict over the specific guidelines of child exchanges, transportation, extracurriculars, discipline, medical decisions, temporary parent time schedule modifications, involvement of third parties in parent time, cohabitation, joint legal custody decisions, and any disagreements on the interpretation and implementation of existing court orders.
At Jess Couser Family Law, our Special Masters are experienced family law attorneys committed to problem solving and decision making with the best interests of children and families in mind. Your Special Master will gather information on your case from both yours and your co-parent’s or ex-spouse’s perspective, as well as a variety of other sources including the custody evaluator, guardian ad litem, therapists, and court record. Your Special Master will strive to become an expert on your case and the needs and challenges faced by your family, and will work hard to provide you with relief from the strain of family court litigation.