No personal experience. My friend's experience was very positive. The other parent was not an A that I am aware of but seemed very narcissistic and did a lot of things to make her co-parenting life hell and that I didn't think were in the best interests of the kids. He was very well spoken and accustomed to throwing his weight and community standing around. The kids had a good GAL that covered all the basis, did all the needed interviews, got all the information, and did a very good job of cutting through the bs and serving the best interests of the kids. It was another battle when it came time to consider legal guardianship for one of her kids - and again - the courts did a good job of weeding through it all.
There are good and bad experiences with anything. I sincerely hope that this marks the beginning of the end of this long road you and the kids have been on with this issue.