Tulsa County’s Special Rules for Divorce Cases involving Minor Children
Oklahoma law says that every parent going through a divorce or child custody case may be required to attend a parenting class or seminar. Okla. Stat. tit. 43 § 107.2 includes the following,
In all actions for divorce, separate maintenance, guardianship, paternity, custody or visitation, including modifications or enforcements of a prior court order, where the interest of a child under eighteen (18) years of age is involved, the court may require all adult parties to attend an educational program concerning, as appropriate, the impact of separate parenting and coparenting on children, the implications for visitation and conflict management, development of children, separate financial responsibility for children and such other instruction as deemed necessary by the court. The program shall be educational in nature and not designed for individual therapy.
For years, Tulsa County has imposed a separate, additional requirement. Every parent going through a divorce or child custody case in Tulsa County must attend a Parenting Plan Conference (“PPC”) and watch videos related to parenting. The PPC is an add-on and is not the same thing as the statutory parenting course in 43 O.S. § 107.2.
Although this is not written anywhere, all the judges in Tulsa agree that they will not approve a joint custody plan submitted by parents unless and until each parent has complied with the parenting class required by state law AND Tulsa’s unique PPC process. Many parents find themselves at a standstill after months of litigation and even after mediation because the other parent has not complied with part of Tulsa’s requirements. In those circumstances, the parents have have reached an agreement concerning custody and visitation and not wish to go to trial, but Tulsa’s judges will hold up their case and refuse to approve the parenting plan until the classes are complete and each parent’s certificates are on file in the case.
At Bundy Law, we have created special email templates and notifications to help clients navigate Tulsa’s unique process and requirements. When the PPC is scheduled, we send each client an email with a detailed, helpful how-to guide for watching Tulsa’s Parenting Planning Conference videos and signing up for the state-required parenting class. We have assisted our colleagues and counterparts on the other side of cases to help make sure that our client’s agreements are honored and recognized by the courts. Our email to clients is below:
A "Parenting Plan Conference" has been scheduled in your matter.
Below is a link for you to view the videos that are a required part of the PPC.
Please watch the following videos here: http://www.tulsacountydistrictcourt.org/ppc.html
“Parenting Through Divorce”
and
“Listen to the Voices of the Children of Divorce”
Once you have watched both videos, please fill out the "attestation" form at the link above and return it to our office. You will need to attend the hearing unless there is a signed, written temporary order agreement reached before that date and time.
Here is a link to a workflow that shows you how to watch the videos and complete the required form: Tulsa County PPC video how-to
The PPC is fairly informal. You may plan to dress comfortably. You will not be called to the stand or sworn in to testify at this event.
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In addition to the PPC videos, you must enroll in and complete the “Helping Children Cope with Divorce” seminar at Family and Children’s Services.
You can register for that 4 hour seminar here: https://www.fcsok.org/classes/
Here is link to a workflow that shows you how to register for the seminar: How to register for the required seminar
Alternatively, OSU's Co-Parenting for Resilience program qualifies for the parenting seminar requirement. You may register for that course online here
