If you do not see your question answered, please reach out to [email protected]

How do I prepare?

If you are involved in a family law matter and a Section 211 assessment has been ordered, be prepared to provide the assessor with the following information:

• The consent of all parties
• The contact information of family members and all involved parties
• Provide court documents, i.e., orders
• The number of children involved
• Whether a trial has been scheduled and if so, when
• Date that the report is required by
• Indicate whether the MCFD or RCMP have been involved with your family
• Provide cost-sharing arrangements

At the onset, you will be required to complete and sign the following:

• Consent for service
• Intake form
• Questionnaire (Full section 211 only)
• Consent to release information

The reports will differ in terms of length, whether recommendations are made, and the evaluative nature of the content. Despite their differences, parental consent by both parents must be given, unless otherwise ordered by a judge. An evaluator will not complete an assessment without consent. Not only do both parents need to consent to the completion of the report, but they must also agree on which assessor to work with. If you are working with lawyers, they will provide a letter to the assessor which provides basic information about your case.

How much does a Section 211 report cost?

A Section 211 report can vary in cost, often dictated by who is completing the report. A section 211 report completed by our team, can range from $10,000 – $25,000 per report. There is no fee guideline when it comes to writing a report. The cost tends to be lower when the report writer is a Registered Clinical Counsellor or Social Worker, opposed to a psychologist.

It is difficult to provide an exact price at the onset of the assessment process, however you will be provided with a range and the assessor will due their best to stay within that range. The assessor will check in with you at the midpoint as to where the hours are at, and you will also be advised if the estimated cost will exceed the quote. The cost can go up or down based on the complexity of the report, amount of interviews conducted etc.

What influences cost?

• Number of children
• Number of guardians
• Number of people living in the home/stepparents
• Travel time
• Amount of information to be reviewed
• Complexity

Who pays the cost of the Section 211 report?

The court may allocate the cost of the report between the parties in proportionate to their incomes, equally, or as otherwise ordered. The court may also order that one party pays the cost of the report upfront subject to the costs being allocated between the parties at a later date.

What if I have Legal Aid Funding?

If you qualify for legal services through legal aid, a portion of the funding may be allocated to pay for a section 211 report. The amount of funding provided often only covers a small portion of the total cost.

How much does a Family Justice Counsellor Section 211 Report cost?

The reports prepared by a family justice counsellors are FREE. However, it may take a long time before they are able to meet with you and prepare the report. Wait times can start at a year and may go up to two or three years.

What type of report should I request? A full 211, Views of the Child, or Hear the Child?

A full section 211 report is the most comprehensive report and is the gold standard of reports. That being said they are the costliest. Every situation and family are unique, one family may require a very detailed account of their situation, another family may only want their child’s voice heard, which would occur in a Hear the Child Report.

A question often asked is do you want a report that provides recommendations to the court or is evaluative in nature? If this is the case, you will want either a Full Section 211 completed or a Views of the Child Report.

Your lawyer will be helped in guiding you through this process to determine which report is most beneficial for your family.

Can my child participate in a Hear the Child Report and later have a Views of the Child or full Section 211 report completed?

Yes, some families will start off with a Hear the Child Report and later determine that they need an evaluative report, thus participating in a Views of the Child Report of full Section 211 report. It is not uncommon for families to start with a Hear the Child Report as they are least intrusive and most cost efficient.

What is the difference between a full Section 211 report and evaluative and non evaluative Views of the Child Report?

When completing a Section 211 report an assessor will make recommendations for your family, often around parenting time, guardianship, parental responsibilities etc. An assessor will not make any recommendations in both an Evaluative or Non Evaluative Views of the Child Report. If you are having an evaluative Views of the Child report the assessor will summarize the child’s views and influences on the views i.e. is there evidence that a child has been coached or not or that one guardian is influencing the relationship that the child has with the other guardian.

If you are requesting a non evaluative, Views of the Child Report, the assessor will not comment on any influences that may have impacted what the child has said to the assessor or the relationship that they have with each parent.

What should I tell my child about the report?

Use caution when talking to your child about the report. What you say to them will likely be dependent on their age and understanding of the process. You do not want to appear to be influencing your child as to what they should say or not say during the interview. A skilled assessor will be able to pick up on this. Saying things such as:

Sometimes when children live in two different homes, parents have a hard time deciding on how much time you should spend at each home. If they can’t decide on this, sometimes the family will go to court, and a judge will become involved. A judge wants to know how you feel and what you want. Instead of talking to a judge you might talk to a counsellor or psychologist about your life and what you think is the best for you. This will be someone who does not know you or your family. They will ask you questions and It is important to tell the truth and let this person know what you want.

Can I show my child the Report?

No, it imperative that children of any age or not provided with the report. The information contained in the reports could cause distress to your child and impact their relationships.

What is the difference if a psychologist completes the report?

The report prepared by a psychologist may include psychological testing and because of this is generally significantly higher in cost. Although, psychological testing is a useful addition to a report it is not a necessity, and a trained Clinical Counsellor or Social Worker is still able to provide accurate and thoughtful recommendations based on their observations, professional opinion, training, and information collected.

What kind of training should an assessor have?

At a minimum an assessor must have a master’s degree in either Counselling or Social Work. On top of this, they should have additional training in the following areas:

• Investigative interviewing
• Mental health
• Coparenting practices
• Child Development
• High Conflict Divorce and Separation
• Parental Alienation/Resist and refusal dynamics
• The Family Law Act
• Family dynamics
• Parental capacity
• Domestic violence
• Child protection
• Parenting Practices
• Conflict resolution

Please ask for a copy of our curriculum vitalise, which will speak to our experience

Does the court follow the assessor’s recommendations?

The court is not bound to follow or implement the section 211 recommendations; however, they are given serious consideration and weigh heavily on the process. It is unusual for a court to go against the assessor’s recommendations.

What if both guardians aren’t in agreement to having a Section 211 report completed?

All guardians must consent to having a report completed, unless it is otherwise ordered by a judge.

What if I don’t agree with the recommendations?

It is important to remember that everyone has a different perspective, and the assessor is documenting what has been told to them or what they observe. You may not agree with information that the other party or collaterals may have provided. You may also not agree with the recommendations that the assessor has made. It is important to note that the assessor looks at all information provided, not just information from one source. You will be given an opportunity to speak with the assessor after the report has completed should you choose to.

You may have an opportunity to express your agreement of disagreement with the recommendations to the court

What will I be asked in an interview?

Two hours will be set aside for each guardian, for the first interview. These are some of the things that the guardians will be asked about:

• Childhood/family of origin
• Relationship history
• Domestic Violence
• Parenting Practices
• Relationship with the Children
• Relationship with coparent
• Coparenting
• Concerns

What will my child/children be asked in an interview?

The interviews with the children will vary based on age of the child, family dynamics, and engagement of the child. The assessor works to create a comfortable environment for your child where they will be provided with the space to freely express their thoughts and feelings. Guardians will not be present for the interview. These are some of the things that your children will be asked about:

• Relationship with both parents
• Relationships with siblings and other important people in their lives
• Day in their life
• Any concerns that they may have
• Parenting time
• Relationship between the parents
• How they want to spend their time/parenting time and arrangements

What will my collateral contacts be asked in an interview?

The assessor will determine who they will speak with. The guardians are to inform the collaterals in advance that the writer will be contacting them. The guardians will provide the writer with a signed consent form as well as contact information for the collateral sources. The contacts may include teachers, counselors, doctors, family friends, neighbours, people who you feel can provide an accurate picture of your family dynamic. These are some of the things that the collateral sources will be asked about:

• How long have you known the family for
• How would you describe them as a parent
• Describe their relationship with the child
• Strengths/Weaknesses
• Any concerns