Texas Family Law Insiders

Episode: Rebecca Perra | Simplify Co-Parenting with OurFamilyWizard

Date: April 2, 2025
Host: Holly Draper
Guest: Rebecca Perra (Judicial & Legal Education Coordinator, OurFamilyWizard; Family Law Attorney & Mediator)

Overview

In this insightful episode, Holly Draper sits down with Rebecca Perra, a seasoned family law attorney and mediator who now serves as Judicial and Legal Education Coordinator for OurFamilyWizard (OFW). They delve into how OFW—a comprehensive co-parenting communication platform—helps separated and divorced families reduce conflict, streamline communication, and enhance accountability. The episode focuses on features of OFW, practical applications for family law professionals, fee waiver programs, and advice for integrating OFW into court orders and daily practice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Rebecca Perra’s Background and OFW Role

• Rebecca’s Legal Journey & Passion for OFW

  • Background practicing family law in Connecticut and as a mediator in Florida.
  • Enthusiasm for educating legal professionals on the benefits and uses of OFW.

    "It's like a passion project. I've loved OFW from practicing, I love it as a mediator and now it's...educating on the app, which I absolutely love."
    —Rebecca Perra [01:16]

• Function as an Educator

  • Provides education for judges, attorneys, DV organizations, nonprofits, legal aids, etc.
  • Answers questions and assists with OFW-related inquiries.

    "There's no question too big or too small. So anything our Family wizard related I work with professionals on."
    —Rebecca Perra [01:58]

What is OurFamilyWizard?

• Co-Parenting Ecosystem

  • Centralizes co-parenting communication (messages, calendars, expenses, info sharing, calls).
  • Designed as an alternative to texts, emails, FaceTime, and fragmented systems.

    "It takes it from 10 places and puts it in one to make life easier all around."
    —Rebecca Perra [00:00], [02:42]

• Legal Reliability

  • Highly documented, court-admissible record keeping.
  • Data remains even if the account is deactivated and later reactivated.

Fee Waivers & Access (03:57)

• Generous Fee Waiver Program

  • Free accounts for users with legal aid, DV assistance, public assistance, or court-deemed indigency.

    "With free apps...there's a cost for it hidden somewhere, whether it's selling data or different functionality. Issues I've run into with a free app is that they can actually block each other...which defeats the whole purpose."
    —Rebecca Perra [03:57]

• Streamlined Online Fee Waiver Process

  • New web-based application for fast approval; physical forms still accepted.

Reducing Conflict and Professional Involvement

• Reducing Conflict through Structured Communication

  • "Better communication ultimately can produce better results for these families... when communication gets off the rails, somebody doesn't feel heard or seen..." —Rebecca Perra [06:12]

• Professional (Attorney/Therapist) Access

  • Free, optional access for professionals.
  • Set boundaries with out-of-office replies; clients can't see login history.
  • Allows professionals to “trust but verify” client accounts.

    "It's a really great way to trust but verify what your client is saying to you rather than everyone's worst nightmare going into court and surprise, nobody wants that."
    —Rebecca Perra [07:25]

• Pulling Reports:

  • Professionals can independently pull all types of reports (messages, expenses, calls, journals) without relying on clients.

    "It just again, it takes out that reliance on the client to provide these reports to you. It really does make life easier."
    —Rebecca Perra [27:06]

Messaging and Record Integrity

• Messaging Advantages Over Texting/Email

  • Immutable records; no editing or deleting.
  • Lifetime data retention—even after going inactive.

    "With OFW, when a message is sent, it's sent. You cannot edit it, you cannot delete, lives on forever."
    —Rebecca Perra [09:34]

• ToneMeter Feature

  • An “emotional spell check” that flags negative language in real time.
  • Does not censor; prompts for reconsideration or rephrasing.

    "It's going to flag that and it's going to say negative. And then what the parent has the option of doing is reframing it...We don't censor people either."
    —Rebecca Perra [11:06]

  • Upcoming ToneMeter AI will offer suggested alternative language (coming soon).

    "Over the coming months you're going to...see something called tone meter AI...it will offer a suggested change."
    —Rebecca Perra [12:22]

Calendar and Notification System

• Unique, Secure, and Tamper-Proof Calendar

  • Provides preset templates for common parenting arrangements (e.g., 2-2-3, 2-2-5-5).
  • Events cannot be edited after they occur or manipulated by the co-parent.

    "Once an event occurs in an OFW calendar, that's it. You cannot...rewrite history...prevents manipulation."
    —Rebecca Perra [13:48]

• Custom Notification Preferences

  • Users set how and when to receive alerts for messages/events.

Expense Management and Reimbursements

• Expense Reimbursement Workflow

  • Attach receipts, submit expenses, accept/decline, immediate payment via bank account (OFW Pay).

    "They submit, you know, a receipt...can either accept it, decline it...pay them immediately...records are going to look like a table, like what's been owed, what's pending, and what's been refused." —Rebecca Perra [15:55]

• Legal Tips for Attorneys

  • Orders must specifically allow for digital expense submissions (no certified mail needed).

    "Be sure that your orders are written to allow for this, because it’s going to make everybody’s life a whole lot easier."
    —Holly Draper [17:20]

Other OFW Features

• InfoBank [18:37]

  • Central repository for school records, insurance, documents, court orders.

    "It's a storage tool...whatever one parent has access to, they can share in the Info Bank and then the other parent has access..."
    —Rebecca Perra [18:49]

• Journal & Moments [19:59]

  • Share photos or notes in a closed, secure space; metadata is scrubbed (privacy).
  • Journal entries can be shared or kept private—available for attorney review as documentation.

• GPS Check-in [22:36]

  • Verifies presence at exchanges or agreed locations within 500 feet (permission-based, no passive tracking).

    "The check in feature...is the unique one feature that is GPS verified...It just takes so much conflict out of the exchanges..."
    —Rebecca Perra [23:10]

• Audio/Video Calling [24:55]

  • Calls can be placed/recorded within OFW, with detailed records (muted, dropped, video on/off).
  • No phone numbers needed; works via cell or WiFi.

    "There’s going to be no records or tracking [on FaceTime]. Our call reports are very detailed...They don't even need to exchange phone numbers."
    —Rebecca Perra [25:09]

Cost & Packages

• Subscription Tiers
  • Essentials: ~$150/yr per parent (annual, includes most features).
  • Premium (unlimited calls): ~$216/yr per parent.
  • Recorded & transcribed calls: $299/yr per parent.
  • Fee waivers: Cover premium-level features for those who qualify.
  • Military Discount: Buy one, get one free per year for current/former/reserve members.

Model Order Language & Implementation

• Model Order Template
  • Customizable text for inclusion in orders, available via website or by emailing Rebecca.

    "We worked really hard. We worked with judges, lawyers...cut and paste and use what you want."
    —Rebecca Perra [32:53]

Professional & Neutral Access

• Mental health professionals, parenting coordinators, and guardians ad litem can be linked to both parties—helping guide communication, assess situations, and report neutrally.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Professional Access:

  "I never knew...if my client was the one giving the accurate story. Perhaps not...It's a really great way to trust but verify..."
  —Rebecca Perra [07:25]

• On Immutable Communication:

  "When a message is sent, it's sent. You cannot edit it, you cannot delete, lives on forever."
  —Rebecca Perra [09:34]

• On Expense Management:

  "Wait till you have a child with braces...that is a expense you don't want to miss the window of time on..."
  —Rebecca Perra [15:55]

• On Young Lawyer Advice:

  "Be prepared, trust. But verify, particularly in the family law space. That's where I just love our family wizard so much... It takes out that surprise element."
  —Rebecca Perra [33:31]

Timestamps of Key Segments

• Rebecca’s Background and OFW Role – [01:16]
• What is OurFamilyWizard (Overview) – [02:42]
• Fee Waiver Programs & Eligibility – [03:57]-[06:06]
• Reducing Conflict, Documentation – [06:12]
• Professional Access & Attorney Use – [07:01]-[09:26]
• Messaging vs Text/Email, ToneMeter – [09:34]-[13:27]
• Calendar Functions & Advantages – [13:48]-[15:40]
• Notification Customization – [15:09]
• Expense Reimbursement and Legal Orders – [15:55]-[17:56]
• OFW Pay Payment Methods – [18:25]
• InfoBank – [18:37]
• Journal/Moments & Private Entries – [19:59]-[22:36]
• GPS Check-In Features – [22:36]
• Audio/Video Calls & Documentation – [24:55]-[26:51]
• Report Generation for Professionals – [27:06]
• Court Admissibility – [27:57]-[28:35]
• Professional and Neutral Access Benefits – [28:51]
• Packages, Cost, Military Discount – [29:55]-[32:13]
• Model Order Language & Customization – [32:13]-[33:22]
• Advice to Young Lawyers – [33:31]
• Where to Find More Info – [34:36]

Further Resources

• Main Site: ourfamilywizard.com
• Model Order Language: Available online or by emailing Rebecca: rpera@ourfamilywizard.com
• Discounts/Inquiries: Contact Rebecca directly with requests for waivers, military discounts, or support for unique client circumstances.

Closing

Rebecca Perra emphasizes that OFW is designed to serve as a single, secure platform for all co-parenting needs—benefitting families, legal professionals, and the courts by promoting transparency, reducing conflict, and maintaining reliable documentation. The episode is packed with practical insights for lawyers and mediators integrating technology into family law practice.