The Center for Divorce Education

A 501(c)(3) Corporation founded in 1987

Things to consider before choosing a Parenting Class.

Warning:

BEFORE you buy a parenting class over the internet, be sure you have an unconditional guarantee.
Make sure the seller fully guarantees BOTH of the following:

1. The class will be accepted by the court.
2. You will find the class informative and useful.

​​If a court rejects your certificate, to get a refund, other classes require you to contact the court and get proof that you have been rejected. This can take quite a bit of time before the court gets around to getting you the proof you need and it can be weeks before you get your money back.

​If you take our class, “Children in Between Online,” and your certificate is rejected (this rarely happens), call us and your money will be refunded within 48 hours. No questions asked.

If you are not satisfied with the content of “Children in Between Online,” simply call us and we will refund your fees... No questions asked. No other class makes this guarantee.
​

​We make these kinds of unconditional guarantees because we have been in business for over 25 years and have received a 95% satisfaction rate from parents who have taken our class. We have invested over a million dollars to make our class the best online class available.

Take the risk out of buying a parenting class and select “Children in Between Online.”
You will not be disappointed.

For other frequently asked questions, please see below.

PARENTING CLASS FAQs

1. What is a parenting class?
Parenting classes are meant for parents who are going through a divorce/separation to help ease the struggles for parents, and their child(ren).  The classes are meant to teach parenting skills that will help parents better their co-parenting relationship and their relationship with their child(ren).
2. Why am I being asked to take a parenting class? 
Many states and counties now require parents with children under the age of 18 who are filing for a divorce/separation to take a parenting class. If you are looking to take a parenting course, chances are you were required by the courts or a judge to complete a class. Parenting classes can be required for a divorce, separation, child custody, domestic abuse, and sometimes even other court hearings. In these cases you will be required to show the court a certificate that verifies you have taken a class.
3. What is a class certificate?
A class certificate is a paper that certifies that you have completed a parenting class. If you are taking a class in-person it will generally be handwritten and if you are taking a course online, it will be a printed certificate. In either case, you will take that certificate to the courts to show that you completed your required parenting seminar.
4. What is the benefit of taking a parenting class?
Taking a parenting class can help teach valuable skills that you may not have known about, or simply just forgot to use. These classes are meant to help you overcome difficult obstacles that can come with a divorce or separation. Some examples are: How your brain reacts in a stressful situation, how your children feel about fighting or being put in the middle of arguments, and even money issues that come from splitting homes. Many parents are required to take these courses and although many of them already have older children, there are still some valuable lessons that can be learned from taking a parenting course.
5. ​How do I know the class I am taking is a good class?
Well designed and interesting classes are developed by professionals and based on academic research. Unfortunately, when you buy a class over the internet, you have little idea of what kind of class you are getting. High-quality classes that will benefit you and your children can prove this with studies that have followed parents and children months after they have taken the class. Classes that do this are called “Evidence-Based." Very few companies offering parenting classes spend the time or the money to follow-up with parents who have taken their class to see if what they learned in the class has benefited their children. Measuring things like school grades, school attendance and reported stress months after the parents have taken the class gives one a good idea of the positive effect of taking the class.
​6. What does a “guarantee” mean when it comes to taking a parenting class?
When a company says they guarantee their class will be accepted by the court there is always fine print that can make it difficult to get your money back if the court rejects your certificate. Also, if you feel that the class was not satisfactory and you found it of little value, you can’t get your money back. Before you buy any class over the internet, if the seller of the class does not guarantee that you will be completely satisfied by taking their class under any circumstances, then stay away. You might be able to earn your certificate by taking an inferior class, but the class may not help you deal with difficult co-parenting circumstances. Reputable companies like Amazon, Wal-Mart, Microsoft, etc. guarantee your money back under any circumstances. Make sure you have the same guarantee from your choice of a parenting class.
7. What are the costs for parenting classes?
The price may vary based on what parenting class you choose and where the class is located. Some classes may charge more or less based on income as well. Some companies may also reduce the fee or waive it if you have an approved fee waiver or poverty affidavit from the court. Check before purchasing the program whether you qualify for a fee waiver, or if the company charges hidden fees.
8. How long do I have to complete a parenting class?
Generally, a court requires a parent to attend a parenting class within a set amount of time, usually 30-45 days from filing their court paperwork. The course itself is usually a four-hour class (or eight to ten hours or more for high-conflict parents) and depending on whether you take the course in-person or online can also determine how long it can take. Some providers may have two separate sessions for the course, in which case it will still be around four hours, but split into two-hour sessions. Online courses are usually accessible 24/7 online and you complete them at your own pace. 
9. Are my co-parent and I supposed to attend the same course?
For an in-person course, it is not generally recommended that you take the same course at the same time. However, it is important that you and your co-parent be on the same page and learn the same useful information. Taking the same class (in-person or online) has many benefits and it is recommended that you take the same parenting class, just not at the same time or at the same place.
If you have any questions or comments, please let us know here.
 
If you are interested in learning more about our parenting class program, click here.