HEAR THE CHILD REPORTS

Hear the Child Reports

PER REPORT: $1,500.00 + GST / Incidental Expenses / 10.00% Contingency Retainer

INITIAL RETAINER REQUIRED: $1,732.50 (PER REPORT – FORMAL ESTIMATE TO BE PROVIDED)

ESTIMATED TIMELINE (FROM COMPLETION OF INTAKE PROCESS & DEPENDENT UPON PARTIES): 1 MONTH

Hear the Child Reporting pursuant to Section 37(1)(2), 202 and 224(1)(b) of the British Columbia Family Law Act is conducted by a trained neutral child interviewer, who provides a written verbatim (word-for-word) report per child to the courts and/or legal counsel, arbitrators or mediators in disputes involving children typically prior-to, during, or after divorce and/or separation. The interview and process differs from child to child, but is completed one-on-one, with fair, standardized questions addressing life at home, activities, school and their thoughts on the divorce and/or separation proceedings as applicable. The report does not include an evaluative component by the interviewer, and as such is found to be less valuable in proceedings than a Views of the Child Report when considering the child’s views in their decision-making. For an additional $500.00 + GST, the report can include an evaluative component addressing the child’s maturity and ability to express themselves, the strength and consistency of the child’s views, and the extent to which the child’s statements reflect the child’s actual preference(s). Because of these added components, parties and the court(s) often find a Views of the Child Report more valuable than a traditional Hear the Child Report when considering the child’s views in their decision-making.

Prior to commencing the process to prepare a Hear the Child Report, the parties must both complete the intake form, approve a formal estimate, and sign a Professional Services Agreement and Non-Disclosure Agreement. Sample agreements the parties would be expected to sign are available on the Resources page of this site. Please note that payment of a retainer in-full is required prior to service commencing, and any balances owing upon completion must be remitted prior to deliverables being provided.

A preliminary timeline will be established for conducting interviews and provided to the parties and/or their legal counsel. Please note that firm submission/completion dates are never provided, as many factors can contribute to delays such as: the willingness and cooperation of the parties/legal counsel to participate in the report preparation process; the availability of parties and/or collateral(s) for interviews; the physical location of parties and/or collateral(s) for interviews where travel may be required; court proceedings that may hinder or cease report preparation activities; and, timely receipt of documentation and supporting information from parties throughout the report preparation process.

The process for a Hear the Child Report for one (1) child is as follows:

1. Intake Phone Call with Parent/Guardian A (45 minutes)

(this can take place via Zoom or Phone if the parties are not located in Victoria)

2. Intake Phone Call with Parent/Guardian B (45 minutes)

(this can take place via Zoom or Phone if the parties are not located in Victoria)

3. Meet-and-Greet Session via Zoom at a neutral location (i.e. library, counsellor’s office) with Child A during Parent/Guardian A’s parenting time (15 minutes)

4. Meet-and-Greet Session via Zoom at a neutral location (i.e. library, counsellor’s office) with Child A during Parent/Guardian B’s parenting time (15 minutes)

5. Initial Interview with Child A in-person at Leanne’s offices during Parent/Guardian A’s parenting time (2 hours)

(this can take place via Zoom at a neutral location if the parties are not located in Victoria)

6. Review Session with Child A in-person at Leanne’s offices during Parent/Guardian B’s parenting time (2 hours)

(this can take place via Zoom at a neutral location if the parties are not located in Victoria)

7. Transcription & Question Period

(any additional questions or clarification required during transcription or the preparation of the body of the report)

8. Preparation of the Final Report & Submission to Parties & Legal Counsel

For multiple children, the process is similar, and sessions can take place back-to-back for efficiency purposes.

This reporting is typically ordered by courts and/or through the parents’ legal counsel. Hear the Child Reporting is not a mental health assessment, nor a parental assessment. It is an entirely neutral process that can not be swayed or influenced by either parent or their legal counsel.

If you have any further questions about the differences between a Hear the Child Report and a Views of the Child Report, please do not hesitate to contact Leanne using the contact form on this site. If this type of reporting would benefit your client’s case, or if you feel it would benefit your own case, please complete the intake form. Please note that prior to proceeding, both parties must complete the intake form. Hear the Child Reports must be consented to by all parents/legal guardians of the child(ren) involved, and in absence of consent or agreement, must be ordered through legal counsel and/or by an order of the court/consent agreement.