n Los Angeles, California, family law specialists such as attorneys, mediators,
judges, and custody evaluators are taking advantage of a new software tool designed to facilitate divorce negotiations between separating
parents. The tool is a first-of-its-kind, joint custody computer program that creates custom-designed visitation schedules and
allocates child support expenses. The program, Kidmate, is a product of kidmate.com of Los Angeles, California.
Kidmate guides family law specialists through child custody arrangements. The program calculates time percentages for each parent based
on "overnights," "total time," and "quality time." A facilitator can assign time-values to
specific blocks of time such as sleeping and school times and exclude time spent away from both parents, such as during summer camp. The
program divides holidays and special days between parents and creates a
comprehensive time-sharing schedule. A record keeper module
tracks details logged into the time-sharing schedule. The program also includes a spreadsheet for the child support expenses to be
shared by the parents.
Enthusiasts in the Los Angeles area include attorney/psychologist Diana Schulman, who finds Kidmate to be a thorough
and innovative program for working with men and women making the transition from couples to parents. Alexandra Leichter, attorney and
certified family law specialist, notes that Kidmate allows parents to keep track of the ever-changing and complicated scheduling of their
custody arrangements, even in multi-family households with children on different schedules. She predicts that the program will become
standard equipment for attorneys, mediators, judges, and custody evaluators. William Glavin, attorney with Kolodny & Anteau in Los
Angeles, remarks that the straightforward graphics are easily reproduced as exhibits and charts for courtroom presentation. Although Kidmate
originated in Los Angeles, it is available nationwide. For further information about the program, visit Kidmate's Web site at
www.kidmate.com."