Services for Family Court

What are Family Court Evaluations?
​Family court evaluations are evaluations in which an expert chosen by the parties or appointed by the court evaluates the child(ren), and or the parents and children, and provides an independent opinion and recommendation to the court regarding parenting matters (most usually what would be in the best interest of the children when it comes to parenting responsibilities and parenting time).    
Amongst other goals, family court evaluations can:
  • Help child(ren)'s voices / views to be heard.
  • Help identify how the parents can cooperatively co-parent despite ongoing problems and strongly negative feelings. 
  • Help identify whether it is possible to develop a parenting plan that protects the child(ren) from conflict and violence.
  • Help to determine if it is possible to develop a parenting arrangement that allows the children to relocate with one parent to a new city or province.
  • Help to identify if, and why, child(ren) are resisting contact with one of their parents.

Types of Family Court Evaluations

I (Dr. Ashley Heiner) offer three main types of family court evaluations: ​
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  • Comprehensive Section 211 (s. 211) Assessments
    A s. 211 assessment is prepared to help you and your ex-partner and/or the court make decisions about custody (parenting responsibilities) and access (parenting time).  A s.211 assessment gives the judge independent evidence about what is in the best interests of your child.  

  • Views of the Child Assessments 
    ​This type of assessment is prepared to help you and your ex-partner and/or the court make decisions about custody (parenting responsibilities) and access (parenting time).  Unlike a Section 211 assessment, which is comprehensive and considers parental fitness, family circumstances, and needs of the children, a Views of the Child assessment only considers the views and wishes of your child.  The purpose of the assessment is to give your child an opportunity to have their voice heard before any final decisions are made.
    ​
  • Voice of the Child / Hear the Child Assessments
    This type of assessment is identical to a Views of the Child assessment in all but one way: in a Voice of/Hear the Child assessment, a psychological expert obtains and presents a child's views without offering any opinion about what the child has said. ​​

I also offer parenting capacity assessments and violence risk assessments. 

Cost of Family Court Evaluations

I charge an hourly fee for family court evaluations, and my hourly rate is $350.  All evaluations completed for court purposes incur an additional charge of 5% GST. 
​
The number of hours required for an evaluation depends predominantly on the type of evaluation being completed, but also on the complexity of the evaluation and the number of persons being assessed.  Talk to me about what you're looking for, and I'll provide you with information about the likely cost.           

How to Get Started

Parents:
Please pass my name and contact details onto your legal counsel, and
I will be happy to speak with them directly about my fees, availability,
and procedures.  Upon their request, I will also give them a copy of my CV, and answer any other questions that they may have. 

Alternatively, if your lawyer has asked you to gather the names of possible evaluators, you may also contact me to obtain information about my fees, my availability, and my procedures.  You can also request a copy of my CV.  Please email me or call me and leave me a voicemail.  Tell me what type of assessment you are looking for, and what information you need (e.g., fees, availability, procedures, CV).  I will get back to you with the requested information within 24 business hours. 

When you email or call me, please don't tell me any specific details about your legal case, and/or about yourself, the children, the other parent or the issues that you think are getting in the way of you coming to an agreement regarding parenting with your ex-partner (e.g., relocation, intimate partner violence, alienation).  Until I formally begin an assessment, all communications between myself, parents, and lawyers should be focused, as much as possible, on administrative or procedural issues.  This is to promote my independence and neutrality as an expert before I begin the assessment, and to promote fairness for you and the other parent.                 

​TALK TO ME
[email protected]
​778-997-3441 
Lawyers:
The best way for us to get started with an assessment is to have a conversation.  Let me know what type of evaluation you and/or opposing counsel are looking for, and the timetable for the case.  I will give you a cost estimate, information about my timeline and typical turnaround time, and my CV.  I will also give you information about my procedures and policies, and I can answer any questions that you may have (e.g., about travel - yes, I will travel within BC and Canada to complete evaluations). 

​Email or call me and leave me a voice mail.  I will return your email or phone call within 24 business hours.         

​TALK TO ME
[email protected]
​778-997-3441
I know that separation and divorce is expensive.  I also know that family court evaluations are expensive.  I know that family court evaluations are time intensive and they may seem intrusive.  However, that shouldn't stop you from seeking an evaluation.  A comprehensive, high-quality assessment can provide useful information that helps parents settle their custody dispute without court intervention, and thus can ultimately save money and protect children from ongoing conflict.  A good s. 211 evaluation can help reduce conflict, keep parents focused on their child(ren)s needs and best interests, and help parents recognize the need for solution and compromise, even when mediation has not been successful in the past.  

​TALK TO ME
[email protected]
​778-997-3441