Helpful terms for
Parents Navigating Child Custody
Child's voice
The child's voice is a term used to describe the
real involvement of children involved in the case. This might mean that the
child is interviewed by a professional to obtain his/her/their view. It might mean the child is invited to speak
to the judge.
Mature minor
Colorado recognizes the concept of a “mature minor”, meaning
a youth with enough maturity to represent their own wishes
In-camera
When used in child custody cases regarding children, this
term typically refers to the judge interviewing the child privately, either in
the judge’s chambers or without attorneys and parents present in the courtroom.
Parental
Responsibility Evaluation
When parents or other parties are going through a child
custody dispute and cannot come to agreement on an issue or multiple issues,
there is the potential for the court to order either the appointment of a Child
and Family Investigator (CFI) or a Parental Responsibility Evaluation (PRE) .
Third party
Third party is a term that refers to a non-parent in a child
custody case. This might be another
family member (e.g. a grandparent) or an outside party a child has been placed
with.