Parenting classes · Named programs
Parenting Programs Courts Order by Name
Court orders often name a parenting class by its program name rather than just saying “a parenting class.” These are the named programs we have verified in official court or state sources — what each one is, which courts document it, and how to confirm it counts for your case.
Quick answer
If your order names a program, take that exact program. Some are run by the court itself (Between Two Parents in Los Angeles, SMILE in Michigan counties), some are the only course a court approves (Two Families Now in Massachusetts), and some appear on court-approved provider lists (Children in Between, Children in the Middle, Clark County’s COPE seminar providers). Two are names for a court requirement rather than one company’s course: Arizona’s Parent Information Program (PIP), which each county runs its own way, and the Level 1 parenting class that Colorado judicial districts require. Acceptance is always decided by the court handling your case.
| Program | What it is | Where courts document it | Online? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent Information Program (PIP) | Arizona’s mandatory class for parents in divorce, legal separation and paternity cases involving children — ordered under A.R.S. 25-352 and run county by county. | Arizona (statewide; each county runs its own) | Yes in Maricopa, Pima and Pinal — county rules differ |
| Level 1 Parenting Class | A Level 1 parenting class is the standard court-required co-parenting class in Colorado divorce and custody cases, and it takes about four hours and costs $29.95 to $135 per parent on district approved-provider lists. It is the label Colorado judicial districts use alongside Level 1.5 and Level 2; take the level your order names. | Colorado judicial districts (El Paso, Arapahoe, Jefferson, Douglas, Adams) | Yes — if the provider is on your district’s list |
| Between Two Parents | The Los Angeles Superior Court’s own free online co-parenting program — six sessions over about seven weeks, for court-ordered parents only. | Los Angeles County, CA (court-run) | Online only |
| Children in Between | The Center for Divorce Education’s online co-parenting course — required by name in Cuyahoga County, OH, and on court-approved lists in several other places. | Cuyahoga Co. OH; Cook Co. IL; Snohomish Co. WA; Oregon counties | Online (some local in-person classes) |
| Children in the Middle | Children in the Middle is the court-approved class Iowa parents in custody and visitation cases must take within 45 days of service, and many providers on your judicial district’s list teach it online or by live webinar. It is the name Iowa’s judicial districts use for the course, so pick a provider from your own district’s list. | Iowa (district-recognized providers) | Often — if the provider is on your district’s list |
| SMILE | Start Making It Livable for Everyone — the parent-education program Michigan county Friend of the Court offices require in divorce cases with minor children. | Michigan counties (Friend of the Court) | Usually — varies by county |
| Two Families Now | An online co-parenting course — the single course Massachusetts Probate and Family Court approves, and listed by some other courts. | Massachusetts (statewide); Clark Co. NV; Multnomah Co. OR | Online only |
| COPE Class (Seminar for Separating Parents) | Clark County, Nevada’s Seminar for Separating Parents, still widely called the COPE class — ordered by Family Division judges in custody cases. | Clark County (Las Vegas), NV | Yes — in person or online |
Summary only. Each program page lists the official sources behind it. We are an independent directory — we are not affiliated with or endorsed by any program publisher or court, and none of these links are affiliate links.
Don’t see your program? Check your state’s page for the local program name and the official provider list, or ask the clerk which classes the court accepts.