About Co-Parenting for Women
Co-parenting programs help separated and divorced mothers share custody constructively and document communication. Most states require court-ordered parent education (often called 'children first' or 'co-parenting' classes) before finalizing a divorce or custody order involving minor children — typically 4–6 hours, online or in person, costing 5–$75. Court-based mediation programs are often free or sliding-scale and certified through state mediation councils. Digital tools like OurFamilyWizard, Talking Parents, and 2Houses provide court-admissible message logs, shared calendars, and expense tracking that family judges increasingly require in high-conflict cases. This directory includes state-required classes, mediators, and co-parenting apps.
14 Resources
The Children's Rights Council of Maryland advocates for children's rights to have access to both parents and supports co-parenting through educational programs, workshops, and resources. CRC Maryland provides information on parenting coordination, custody rights, and shared parenting best practices. Call 301-559-3120 or email info@crckids.org for program information. Located at 6200 Editors Park Dr Suite 103, Hyattsville. Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. A resource for mothers seeking to maintain healthy co-parenting relationships focused on children's wellbeing.
301-559-3120 · 6200 Editors Park Dr Suite 103, Hyattsville, MD 20782 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services offers court-ordered and voluntary co-parenting education classes for separating and divorcing parents. Classes cover effective communication with the other parent, minimizing conflict, and prioritizing children's needs during transition. Call 240-773-0444 to register or inquire about class schedules. Located at 1301 Piccard Dr, Rockville. Open Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm. Court-ordered participants receive a certificate of completion. Classes available in English and Spanish.
240-773-0444 · 1301 Piccard Dr, Rockville, MD 20850 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website
Baltimore County provides co-parenting education and support services for divorcing or separating parents, including classes focused on reducing conflict, improving communication, and keeping children's needs at the center. Call 410-887-2041 to register for available sessions. Located at 401 Bosley Ave, Towson. Open Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm. Programs are offered at no cost for qualifying participants and may satisfy court requirements for parent education. Contact the court for any court-ordered class requirements.
410-887-2041 · 401 Bosley Ave, Towson, MD 21204 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm · Visit Website
Prince George's County Department of Social Services offers parenting classes and co-parenting resources for separating families in the county. Programs help parents develop communication strategies, manage conflict, and support their children through family changes. Call 301-952-3500 or visit the family services office at 9200 Basil Ct Suite 400, Largo to register. Open Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm. Classes may satisfy court requirements. Spanish-language programming available. Income-based fee waivers may be available.
301-952-3500 · 9200 Basil Ct Suite 400, Largo, MD 20774 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website
Families First Maryland provides support services, counseling, and case management to help women navigate co-parenting challenges after separation or divorce. Staff assist with parenting plans, conflict resolution, and connecting families to community resources. Call 410-685-8316 or email info@familiesfirstmd.org for an intake appointment. Located in Baltimore. Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm. Services designed to stabilize families and support healthy child development during and after high-conflict separations.
410-685-8316 · Baltimore, MD 21218 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm
Howard County Department of Community Resources and Services offers co-parenting programs and family services helping parents in Howard County manage separation, improve communication, and support their children. Call 410-313-6300 for program availability and registration. Located at 9830 Patuxent Woods Dr, Columbia. Open Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm. Services include parenting workshops, case management, and referrals to mediation and counseling. Programs are free or low-cost for qualifying Howard County residents.
410-313-6300 · 9830 Patuxent Woods Dr, Columbia, MD 21046 · Mon-Fri 8:30am-5pm · Visit Website
Our Family Wizard is an industry-leading co-parenting app providing shared calendars, secure messaging, expense tracking, and court-admissible communication records. All messages are timestamped and uneditable, providing a neutral record for legal proceedings. Used and recommended by family courts and attorneys nationwide. Plans start around $99/year per parent. Download on iOS or Android, or access at ourfamilywizard.com. Fee waivers available for qualifying low-income parents through the OFW program.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
TalkingParents is a co-parenting communication app featuring secure, unalterable messaging, a shared calendar, call recording, and document storage — all designed to create a neutral, court-admissible record of co-parent interactions. Records cannot be deleted or edited by either parent, which provides protection in contentious custody cases. Basic features are free; premium plans add phone call recording and additional storage. Available on iOS and Android at talkingparents.com.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
AppClose is a free co-parenting app offering a shared parenting calendar, in-app messaging, expense tracking, and parenting plan management tools. Unlike premium apps, AppClose is completely free to use with no subscription required. Features include a custody schedule builder, expense log, and secure messaging. Download on iOS or Android or access at appclose.com. Ideal for co-parents who need basic organization tools without the cost of premium platforms.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
2houses is a co-parenting platform designed to simplify family organization after separation, offering a shared calendar, expense tracking, family journal, and secure messaging for both parents and children. The platform stores medical records, school documents, and important contacts in one place accessible to both co-parents. Plans available for both parents starting around
0/month. Access at 2houses.com or download the mobile app. Helps reduce miscommunication and keeps both parents informed.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Coparenter is a co-parenting communication and mediation app that combines messaging, scheduling, and expense tracking with on-demand access to professional mediators and coaches when disputes arise. The app uses AI to de-escalate tense messages before they are sent. Monthly plans available. Ideal for high-conflict co-parenting situations where professional guidance is periodically needed. Access at coparenter.com or download on iOS and Android. The built-in mediation feature can help resolve disputes without going back to court.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Up to Parents is a free, research-based online co-parenting course designed to help separating parents reduce conflict and focus on their children's needs. Recommended by family courts in numerous states, the program takes approximately 3 hours to complete online and can be done at your own pace. Completion certificates are available for court submission. Access for free at uptoparents.org — no registration fee. Particularly effective for parents who are newly separated and navigating shared custody for the first time.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Cozi Family Organizer is a free shared calendar and family management app useful for co-parents who need to coordinate schedules, track appointments, and share shopping lists. While not a dedicated co-parenting legal tool, Cozi is an accessible, free option for parents who need basic calendar sharing and reminders. Features include color-coded schedules per family member, a shared to-do list, and meal planning. Download free on iOS and Android or access at cozi.com.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Custody X Change is software designed to help parents create detailed parenting plans, build custody schedules, and calculate the exact percentage of time each parent spends with the child. The tool is used by attorneys, mediators, and self-represented parents to produce professional-looking parenting plan documents for court submission. Available as a one-time purchase or subscription. Access at custodyxchange.com. Particularly useful when negotiating time-sharing arrangements that need to be clearly documented.
Nationwide · Online · Visit Website
Frequently Asked
- How many co-parenting resources are in Maryland?
- Women's Corner tracks 14 verified co-parenting resources for women in Maryland.
- Are co-parenting resources in Maryland free?
- 14 of the 14 listed co-parenting resources in Maryland are explicitly free or low-cost.
- Which cities in Maryland have co-parenting resources?
- Listings span cities including Hyattsville, Rockville, Towson, Largo, Baltimore, Columbia.
- What are some examples of co-parenting resources in Maryland?
- Featured entries include Children's Rights Council of Maryland, Montgomery County Family Services — Co-Parenting Classes, Baltimore County Co-Parenting Program, Prince George's County Family Services — Parenting, Families First Maryland — Co-Parenting Support.
- Do these listings include phone numbers?
- 6 of 14 Maryland co-parenting listings include verified phone numbers.
- Is a parenting class required for divorce?
- In most states, yes — a 4–6 hour court-approved co-parenting class (5–$75, often online) is required before any divorce or custody order involving minor children is finalized. Check your state court's approved provider list. The class is gender-neutral and focuses on protecting kids from conflict.
- What's mediation and do I have to do it?
- Mediation is a confidential negotiation with a neutral third party to agree on a parenting plan. Most states require at least one mediation session before contested custody hearings. It's faster, cheaper, and less traumatic than litigation. If there's domestic violence history, you can request to opt out or have separate-room mediation.
- Which co-parenting app should I use?
- OurFamilyWizard, Talking Parents, and 2Houses are accepted as evidence in court in most US jurisdictions. They provide tamper-proof message logs, shared calendars, expense tracking, and a tone-monitoring feature. If your ex is abusive or harassing, these apps create a documented record judges will read.
- How do I co-parent with someone who was abusive?
- Use parallel parenting instead of cooperative co-parenting — minimize contact, use a court-monitored app for all communication, exchange the child at a neutral location or police station, and stick strictly to the written parenting plan. Document everything. Many states allow supervised exchanges through Safe Exchange programs at no cost.