Navigating child custody disputes in Colorado
Navigating child custody disputes in Colorado can be complicated and emotionally exhausting. To assist in these cases, courts often rely on parenting experts to evaluate family dynamics and provide recommendations that prioritize the child's best interests. Understanding the roles and distinctions among these experts is important for parents undergoing custody disputes.
Types of Parenting Experts in Colorado
In Colorado, the court may appoint various professionals to assess and provide insights and even recommendations into custody cases:
Child and Family Investigator (CFI): Typically an attorney or mental health professional, a CFI conducts a focused investigation into specific issues as directed by the court. They observe parent-child interactions, interview involved parties, and may consult with other significant figures in the child's life, such as teachers. Their findings are submitted to the Court and parties in a report with recommendations aimed at serving the child's best interests. CFIs are generally more cost-effective, with fees capped by the state; as of 2025, the maximum fee is $3,250.
Parental Responsibilities Evaluator (PRE): A PRE is a licensed mental health professional who undertakes a comprehensive assessment of the family. This evaluation may include psychological testing and in-depth interviews to understand the psychological needs of the child and parenting attributes of each parent. PREs provide detailed reports with options that serve the child's best interests for the court's consideration. Unlike CFIs, there is no fee cap for PREs, and costs can range from $5,000 to $40,000, reflecting the extensive nature of their evaluations.
Child Legal Representative (CLR): A CLR is an attorney, appointed by the Court to represent the best interest of the child in a custody case. The CLR is an attorney in the case, just as the Petitioner’s and Respondent’s attorney. The CLR does not issue a report and cannot be called as a witness.
Distinguishing Between CFI and PRE
While both CFIs and PREs aim to inform the court about the child's best interests, they differ in scope and methodology.
Scope of Investigation: CFIs conduct brief, issue-specific inquiries, whereas PREs perform extensive evaluations covering broader aspects of family dynamics.
Qualifications: CFIs can be attorneys or mental health professionals without specialized training in psychology, while PREs are licensed mental health professionals with expertise in family evaluations and child development
Depth of Evaluation: CFIs offer quicker, less detailed assessments; PREs provide thorough evaluations, including psychological testing and extensive interviews
Selecting the Appropriate Expert for Your Case
Choosing between a CFI and a PRE depends on the specifics of your custody case
CFI: Suitable for cases requiring a swift, cost-effective investigation into particular issues.
PRE: Recommended for complex cases involving serious concerns such as substance abuse, mental health issues, or allegations of abuse, necessitating an in-depth evaluation.
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