INFORMED CONSENT, POLICIES, AND PROCEDURES
1. ROLE OF THE SOCIAL INVESTIGATOR
The Social Investigator serves as a neutral and impartial forensic professional. The purpose of the investigation is to gather information, assess factors affecting the best interests of the child(ren), and provide findings and recommendations to the Court. This process is not therapy, counseling, mediation, legal representation, parenting coordination, advocacy, or any other service intended to benefit one party over another.
2. NO THERAPEUTIC OR CONFIDENTIAL RELATIONSHIP
No therapist-client, evaluator-client, treatment-provider, fiduciary, advocacy, or confidential professional relationship is created by participation in this investigation. The Social Investigator's obligation is to the investigative process and, ultimately, to the Court rather than to either party.
3. PRIOR KNOWLEDGE OF INDIVIDUALS AND MULTIPLE RELATIONSHIPS
The Social Investigator will not knowingly accept an appointment involving a current or former client, close personal relationship, close professional relationship, or other circumstance that would reasonably impair impartiality.
Due to the nature of forensic family law practice, it is not uncommon for the investigator to have prior knowledge of, familiarity with, or limited professional contact with attorneys, therapists, physicians, educators, Guardian ad Litems, Parenting Coordinators, court personnel, expert witnesses, or other individuals involved in a case. Such familiarity alone does not constitute a conflict of interest, bias, multiple relationship, or grounds for disqualification.
4. NON-CONFIDENTIAL NATURE OF THE PROCESS
Information obtained during the investigation is not confidential and may be included in a written report, disclosed to attorneys, relied upon by the Court, or discussed during testimony.
5. REQUIRED PARTICIPATION
Each party agrees to timely complete questionnaires, releases, document requests, testing, interviews, home visits, and other requirements. Failure to cooperate may be documented and considered during the investigation.
6. HOME VISITS
Parties agree to comply with the Home Visit Guidelines and Expectations. Household members should be present. Non-household members should not be present unless approved by the investigator. Children should not be coached regarding questions, answers, or topics that may be discussed.
7. COLLATERAL CONTACTS
The investigator may communicate with collateral witnesses, schools, medical providers, therapists, coaches, daycare providers, law enforcement, and other relevant sources. Information obtained from collateral sources is not confidential.
8. MANDATORY REPORTING
The investigator shall comply with all mandatory reporting obligations involving suspected abuse, neglect, abandonment, threats of harm, abuse of vulnerable persons, or other legally reportable matters.
9. COMMUNICATIONS
All substantive communications regarding the investigation shall include both parties or their attorneys when appropriate. Ex-parte communications regarding disputed issues are prohibited.
10. RECORDINGS
No interview, home visit, meeting, telephone call, video conference, or communication with the investigator may be audio recorded, video recorded, photographed, screen recorded, livestreamed, or otherwise preserved without written consent from the investigator.
11. SOCIAL MEDIA
Parties shall not contact the investigator through social media, publish private communications, post recordings, tag the investigator, or otherwise use social media to interfere with the investigation process.
12. DOCUMENT SUBMISSIONS
Parties are responsible for timely providing documents and information. Documents submitted shortly before report completion may not be reviewed before issuance of the report and may require an addendum or additional fees.
13. RECORDS AND FILE REQUESTS
Requests for copies of records, correspondence, notes, questionnaires, testing materials, collateral communications, or other file materials may result in additional fees. Certain materials may be protected from disclosure by law, professional standards, test security requirements, copyright restrictions, privilege, work-product protections, or court order. The investigator may require a subpoena, written authorization, or court order before releasing records.
14. PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING
The investigation may include psychological testing, screening instruments, parenting measures, substance abuse screening instruments, and other assessment tools deemed appropriate by the investigator.
15. FEES
Fees are governed by the current fee schedule and professional policies document. Fees may include investigation services, travel, testing, collateral contacts, document review, report preparation, testimony preparation, depositions, court appearances, records requests, and related professional services. Refer to the Social Investigation Fee Schedule and Professional Policies.
By signing this Agreement, the parties acknowledge that they have received, read, understand, and agree to be bound by the current Social Investigation Fee Schedule and Professional Policies, which are incorporated herein by reference. This includes, but is not limited to, all provisions regarding retainers, billing practices, payment responsibilities, earned professional fees, refund policies, cancellations, testimony, records requests, and other professional fees.
16. COURT TESTIMONY
If testimony, deposition, affidavit preparation, records review, consultation with attorneys, or court attendance is requested, fees shall be governed by the current fee schedule and any applicable court order. The investigator does not determine allocation of litigation-related fees between the parties.
17. INCOMPLETE OR UNAVAILABLE INFORMATION
The investigator's findings and recommendations are based upon information available at the time the investigation is completed. The investigator cannot guarantee that all relevant information, witnesses, records, or events will be discovered or disclosed. Failure to provide information, identify witnesses, execute releases, participate in the investigation, or timely submit documents may affect findings and recommendations.
18. PROFESSIONAL OPINIONS
The investigator's findings and recommendations are based upon professional judgment and available information. Recommendations may or may not be favorable to either party.
19. OTHER PROFESSIONALS
The Social Investigator may utilize qualified mental health professionals, psychometrists, consultants, testing personnel, graduate-level clinicians, administrative staff, or other qualified professionals to assist with various aspects of the investigation, including psychological testing, interview support, note-taking, records organization, data management, collateral contacts, report preparation, and other investigative tasks. All individuals assisting with the investigation are required to maintain appropriate professional and ethical standards, including confidentiality where applicable. The Social Investigator independently reviews all information relied upon in forming the investigator’s opinions, exercises professional judgment, and remains solely responsible for the investigative process, findings, opinions, recommendations, and final report.
20. PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
Participants are expected to communicate respectfully and professionally throughout the investigation. Harassing, threatening, abusive, disruptive, or inappropriate conduct toward the investigator, staff, collateral contacts, or other participants may be documented and reported to the Court when appropriate.
21. AUTHENTICITY OF SUBMISSIONS
Questionnaires, statements, witness responses, and other materials submitted during the investigation should reflect the individual's own knowledge, experiences, and opinions. The investigator reserves the right to consider the source, preparation, and reliability of submitted materials when assessing credibility and weight.
22. NO GUARANTEE OF OUTCOME
Participation in the Social Investigation process does not guarantee any particular recommendation, parenting arrangement, court ruling, or outcome.
23. ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF RISKS
The parties understand that participation may involve discussion of sensitive personal, family, legal, medical, educational, and mental health information and may result in findings or recommendations that are unfavorable to a party's position.
24. MULTIPLE SOURCES OF INFORMATION
Findings and recommendations are based upon the integration of information obtained from multiple sources throughout the investigation. No single interview, statement, allegation, observation, collateral contact, document, record, psychological test, or other individual piece of information is used in isolation to determine the investigator's opinions or recommendations. Information is evaluated collectively, with consideration given to consistency, reliability, credibility, corroboration, professional judgment, and the totality of the available evidence.
25. REASSESSMENT OF OPINIONS
The investigator's opinions may evolve during the course of the investigation as additional information becomes available. Initial impressions, preliminary observations, or information obtained early in the investigation should not be interpreted as final opinions or recommendations. Final findings are formulated only after consideration of the available information as a whole.
26. INFORMED CONSENT
By signing below, the participant acknowledges understanding the nature of the Social Investigation process and voluntarily agrees to participate.