Investigation and report on custodial arrangements for a child
When a court is deciding where a child should live, a judge can order someone to look into the situation and write a report. That person — like a county welfare worker or another qualified person — can talk to anyone who might have useful information about the child. They can also have the child seen by a doctor or other expert. If the child is 16 or older and mentally able, that child has to agree before the investigator talks to past doctors or experts about them. At least 10 days before the court hearing, the investigator has to share the report and all related records with the lawyers and any person in the case who does not have a lawyer. Anyone involved in the case can call the investigator or anyone the investigator talked to as a witness at the hearing.
452.390. Investigation and report on for a child — how conducted — report due, when — to be available to and parties. — 1. The court may an investigation and report concerning custodial arrangements for the child. The investigation and report may be made by the county welfare office, the , or any other competent person.
2. In preparing his report concerning a child, the investigator may consult any person who may have about the child and his potential custodial arrangements. Upon order of the court, the investigator may refer the child to professional personnel for . The investigator may consult with and obtain information from medical, psychiatric, or other expert persons who have the child in the past without obtaining the of the parent or the child's , but the child's consent must be obtained if he has reached the age of sixteen, unless the court finds that he lacks to consent.
3. At least ten days prior to the the investigator shall furnish his report to counsel and to any not represented by counsel. No one else, including the court, shall be entitled prior to the hearing. The investigator shall make available to counsel and to any party not represented by counsel an investigator's file of underlying data and reports, complete texts of made to the investigator the of 2, and the names and addresses of all persons whom the investigator has consulted. Any party to the may call as witnesses the investigator and any person whom the investigator has consulted.
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Source & history notes
(L. 1973 H.B. 315 § 19) Effective 1-01-74
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