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Difference between revisions of "How Do I Get a Needs of the Child Assessment?"
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How Do I Get a Needs of the Child Assessment? (view source)
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==Needs of the child assessments== | ==Needs of the child assessments== | ||
Where decisions about children are concerned, the question for parents and courts is "What is in the best interests of the child?'' Obviously, separated parents may disagree about what's best when it comes to guardianship, parenting arrangements, or who has contact with a child. Section 37(2) of the ''[[Family Law act]]'' contains more specifics about the factors this consideration involves. | |||
In some cases, a neutral third party is used to provide a report. Under s. 211, the court can appoint a person to <span class="noglossary">assess</span> one or more of: | |||
# the needs of a child in relation to a family law dispute, | |||
# the views of a child in relation to a family law dispute, or | |||
# the ability and willingness of a party to a family law dispute to satisfy the needs of a child. | |||
Reports of the first kind are called ''needs of the child assessments''. You might also hear them called ''section 211 reports''. Under the old ''Family Relations Act'' these reports were called ''section 15 reports'' or ''custody and access reports''. These reports can be very helpful in resolving a dispute about the care of children. A court <span class="noglossary">will</span> usually give a great deal of weight to the assessor's opinion and recommendations. | |||
==Picking the assessor== | ==Picking the assessor== | ||
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==Arranging for the assessment== | ==Arranging for the assessment== | ||
The parties can agree that a needs of the child assessment <span class="noglossary">will</span> be prepared, and agree who should do the assessment, but if they can't agree, an application can be made to court for an order that an assessment be prepared. If you have to apply to court for such an order, make sure that you do your homework beforehand. You want to be able to tell the judge who you think should prepare the report, the anticipated costs, and | The parties can agree that a needs of the child assessment <span class="noglossary">will</span> be prepared, and agree who should do the assessment, but if they can't agree, an application can be made to court for an order that an assessment be prepared. If you have to apply to court for such an order, make sure that you do your homework beforehand. You want to be able to tell the judge who you think should prepare the report, the anticipated costs involved, and the availability of the report writer. The order <span class="noglossary">will</span> usually specify who is being retained to prepare the report. The order can also specify how the report <span class="noglossary">will</span> be paid for. | ||
Once | Once an assessment is ordered or agreed to, you should get in touch with the person who <span class="noglossary">will</span> be performing the assessment. The assessor <span class="noglossary">will</span> tell you what happens next, when the interviewing process <span class="noglossary">will</span> begin, and when the completed assessment <span class="noglossary">will</span> likely be ready. | ||
You can find more information about needs of the child assessments in the chapter [[Children in Family Law Matters]]. | You can find more information about needs of the child assessments in the chapter [[Children in Family Law Matters]]. | ||