Under the Family Law Act, when determining the best interests of a child, decision-makers must consider the child’s views unless it would be inappropriate to do so. One way to ensure a child or youth’s voice is respectfully included is through a Hear the Child (HTC) Report.

A Hear the Child Report is a non-evaluative, child-focused report that documents, in the child’s own words where possible, their views on issues related to family transition or family breakdown. The purpose of the report is to ensure the child’s perspective is available to parents, legal counsel, and the court when decisions are being made about the child’s best interests.

Importantly, an HTC Report does not include recommendations, opinions, or assessments. The report reflects only what the child chooses to share. The child has full control over what is included, and nothing is placed in the report without the child’s consent.

How a Hear the Child Report Is Ordered

A Hear the Child Report may be completed:

• By agreement between the child’s guardians and the interviewer

• By consent order

• By judicial court order

When the report is completed by agreement, all guardians are required to sign an Agreement for a Hear the Child Interview prior to the process beginning.

Parent and Counsel Involvement

Before meeting with the child, I typically:

• Speak briefly with each parent’s legal counsel (if involved) to understand the context of the request and the issues in dispute

• Review any relevant court orders or documents before the court, if applicable

• Have a short phone call with each parent to identify the specific issues or questions they would like canvassed with the child

These conversations are intentionally limited. I do not conduct in-depth discussions with parents about the merits of their positions, nor do I mediate or evaluate the dispute.

The Child Interviews

I meet with the child on two occasions:

• The first interview is approximately one hour

• The second interview is typically shorter and used for clarification and review

Parents are not present during the interviews. Interview dates and timelines are coordinated with parents and/or legal counsel, including agreement on the report completion date.

Transportation to and from interviews is generally shared between parents wherever possible. Virtual interviews (via Zoom) may also be arranged when appropriate.

Key Principles of the Hear the Child Process

• The interview is conducted through the lens of the child, not the parents’ dispute

• Children are not decision-makers; their views are gathered to inform adult decision-making

• The child decides whether and how they answer questions

• All responses are reviewed with the child, and they decide what is included in the report

• I take detailed notes and record the interview to allow for accurate, verbatim reporting

• Recordings are not stored and are deleted once the report is finalized

• The process is non-evaluative. No assessments or recommendations are made

• Children must not be coached prior to the interview, nor questioned afterward about what they said

• Parents should prepare the child by explaining that this is their opportunity to share their views and that they are supported in doing so

• If child protection concerns arise, I am legally obligated to report them

Typical Areas of Inquiry

While each interview is tailored to the child’s age, development, and circumstances, questions generally fall into three areas:

• General questions about how the child is doing since their parents’ separation

• Questions about time spent with each parent

• Questions about future parenting arrangements

Fees

Fees are payable in advance of release of the report and include all work completed, including interviews, report writing, and distribution.

• One child: $825+ GST

• Two children: $1,5500 + GST

• Each additional child: $400 + GST

Any travel expenses, if required, are discussed and agreed upon in advance.