Parenting Through Separation NZ: Course Guide for Grandparents

A Mandatory Step You Can't Skip

If you're planning to apply for a parenting order in the Family Court, you'll need a Parenting Through Separation (PTS) completion certificate before the court accepts your application. It doesn't matter whether you're a parent or a grandparent — the requirement applies to everyone filing an on-notice parenting order application under the Care of Children Act 2004.

PTS is separate from Family Dispute Resolution (FDR). You need both. PTS comes first for most people, though the order doesn't strictly matter as long as you have both certificates when you file.

What the Course Covers

PTS is a free four-hour programme designed to help caregivers understand the emotional impact that care disputes have on children. It covers:

• How separation and care changes affect children at different ages
• Communicating with children about what's happening
• Managing conflict between adults
• Keeping the child's needs at the centre of decisions
• An overview of the Family Court process

The course doesn't teach you how to fill in court forms or build a legal case. It's about the child's emotional wellbeing, not procedure.

Providers and How to Attend

The Ministry of Justice contracts several organisations to deliver PTS sessions across New Zealand:

Barnardos runs PTS sessions in multiple locations nationwide. You can find dates and register through their website.

Skylight Trust delivers PTS in various centres, often with evening and weekend options.

Other regional providers — the Ministry of Justice website lists all approved PTS providers by location. Some offer online sessions, which can be useful if you're in a rural area or have mobility issues.

Sessions run in groups. You attend with other people going through similar situations — not with the other party in your dispute. There's no cost to attend.

Certificate Validity

Your PTS completion certificate is valid for two years from the date you complete the course. If you don't file your court application within that window, you'll need to attend again.

By comparison, an FDR certificate is only valid for 12 months. Plan your timeline accordingly — if you complete PTS first and then take a while to get through FDR, your PTS certificate still has plenty of runway.

Who's Exempt

Under Section 46E of the Care of Children Act, you're exempt from PTS (and FDR) if:

• Your application is without notice due to immediate safety concerns
• Family violence is involved, supported by a sworn affidavit or active Protection Order
• A party cannot participate due to incapacity or inaccessible location
• All parties have agreed and you're filing a Consent Memorandum
• The child is subject to active Oranga Tamariki proceedings

If you're exempt, you file an affidavit explaining the grounds instead of attaching the certificate.

PTS as a Grandparent

The course is designed primarily for separating parents, so some of the content might feel less relevant if you're a grandparent seeking care of a grandchild. The modules on co-parenting communication, for example, assume a separating couple rather than a grandparent-parent dynamic.

That said, the principles about keeping the child's emotional needs front and centre apply directly. And the practical benefit is simple: without the certificate, you can't file. Treat it as a box to tick and a chance to learn something useful about how children experience these transitions.

What Comes After PTS

With your PTS certificate in hand, the next step is usually Family Dispute Resolution — formal mediation with an approved provider. If that doesn't resolve the dispute, you take both certificates and file your parenting order application at the Family Court.

Our NZ Parenting & Guardianship Orders guide maps the full sequence from PTS through FDR and into the court process, with a checklist for each stage so you can track where you are.

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