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FAMILY COURT SERVICES Orientation Packet In English and Spanish
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Family Court Services Orientation	Folleto Informativo para Padres de Familia
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What the Orientation packet includes:	Lo que esto folleto inclue:
Best Interest of the Child The Importance of a Positive Attitude What is Family Court Services (FCS)? What Family Court Services Provides Legal Terms for Parents Parenting Plans Telephone contact Transportation/Exchanges Holidays School breaks Long distance parenting Filing Papers How to Prepare Yourself for Court Be on Time Look Neat Journal/Calendar Clean Drug/Alcohol Test Letters from therapists, daycare providers, teachers, counselors Parenting plan Compromise and flexible attitude Things That Might Affect Your Parenting Plan Domestic violence/Restraining orders Drugs/Alcohol Child Abuse Supervised Exchanges Supervised Contact Professional Supervision Agency Potential Outcomes of the Process Other people (the children, spouses, etc.) involved in the Court process Preparing the Children Support Person Typical issues and appropriate responses False Accusations New Partners/Step-Parents Long Distance Parenting/Move Away High Conflict/Poor Communication Mentally Ill, Addicted, or Absent Parents Helpful Handouts Communicating with FCS Confidentiality Child/Elder Abuse Custody Evaluation Report Confidential Counseling Classes & Counseling Co-Parent Class Parenting Classes Anger Management Classes Co-parent Counseling Emergency Court Matters (Ex Parte) You Reach an Agreement Before You Appointment Parking Fees	Lo que más le beneficie al menor La importancia de una actitud positiva Qué es la agencia Servicios de la Corte Familiar? Los servicios que proporcionamos La Mediación preliminar La Mediación recomendatoria La Resolución de disputas familiares por estipulación La Resolución de disputas familiares por recomendación La Consejería confidencial Las Evaluaciones sobre la custodia: La Evaluación a fondo y la Evaluación cuando un padre se muda La Evaluación sobre la custodia para objeto limitado (parcial) La Evaluación sobre la custodia por motivos psicológicos Términos legales para padres de familia: Custodia Legal Mancomunada (Conjunta) Custodia Legal Exclusiva Custodia Física Mancomunada (Conjunta) Custodia Física Exclusiva Residencia Principal Acuerdos mutuos entre los padres para la crianza de los hijos Contacto por teléfono Transporte y transferencias de los hijos Días feriados Las vacaciones escolares Padres de larga distancia El proceso judicial Cómo prepararse para ir a la Corte Llegue a tiempo Use buen arreglo personal Lleve un diario o calendario Una prueba negativa para alcohol o drogas Cartas de terapeutas, guarderías, profesores y consejeros escolares Cosas que pueden afectar el acuerdo mutuo La violencia doméstica y las órdenes inhibitorias Las drogas o el alcohol El maltrato de menores Transferencias supervisadas Visitas supervisadas La agencia profesionale Resultados posibles del proceso Estipulación o Acuerdo Recomendación Objeciones Audiencia Otras personas (los hijos, los cónyuges, y otros) envueltas en el proceso judicial Cómo preparar a sus hijos La participación de los menores La participación de otras personas Defensores de víctimas Cuestiones problemáticas típicas y las reacciones apropiadas Las acusaciones falsas Parejas nuevas y padrastros Padres de larga distancia o que se mudan Niveles elevados de conflicto o mala comunicación Padres con enfermedad mental, con adicciones o que estén ausentes Folletos útiles Cómo comunicarse con FCS La confidencialidad El maltrato de menores y ancianos El Informe de la Evaluación sobre la custodia La Consejería confidencial Clases y consejería La clase para padres separados o divorciados Clases prácticas sobre la crianza de los hijos Clases prácticas sobre el control del temperamento Información diversa Emergencias que se traen ante la Corte (Ex Parte, o de una sola parte interesada) Si llegan a un acuerdo antes de su cita Estacionamiento Honorarios
Below is a brief sample of some of the information in the Orientation packet: (please download the Orientation packet to get the full information about all of the topics below and many others.
Best Interest of the Child The best interest of the child includes having two caring parents actively and consistently in their lives. Research has shown that children with an absentee parent are more likely to use drugs and alcohol earlier, become teen parents, drop out of school, and exhibit criminal behavior. Therefore, it is in their best interest that both parents actively spend time with them. This is why you are in Court nowBto set up a schedule for both of you to see your child in the best way possible.
Family Court Services provides the following services:
FREE SERVICES
Screening Mediation: 3 hours a year: When you come to Court with a parenting dispute, the Judge may send you out with a mediator. If you reach an agreement during mediation, the Judge will make it an order in Court that day. Otherwise, the mediator makes a recommendation to the Judge in open Court, that day.
Recommending Mediation (RM), Stipulated: Free if you have not used up your 3 hours a year. It is scheduled for two hours, generally at 8 AM. It focuses on only one parenting or custody issue.  If you reach an agreement, the Judge will make it an order that day.
FEE CHARGED SERVICES:
Family Dispute Resolution (FDR), Stipulated: $60/hr.You may stipulate to a Family Dispute Resolution.
Family Dispute Resolution (FDR), Referred: $60/hr. The Judge may refer you to Family Dispute Resolution. Either you reach an agreement; or the mediator writes up a Recommendation.
Confidential Counseling: $225 for 3 hours. Parents may go to Confidential Counseling any time without coming to Court. No information will be communicated to the Court. If you do not reach an agreement, you may then return to Court for a screening.
Custody Evaluations: The Court may decide to send parents to a Custody Evaluation because it wants to take a more thorough look at the family situation. The investigator will examine police records, talk to CPS, interview professionals like daycare workers, teachers, medical personnel, therapists, etc., and may ask you to take a drug test.
Full Custody Evaluation/Move Away Evaluation: $1200, shared by parents. The Judge refers parents to this Custody Evaluation if $ There are serious allegations (drug abuse, child abuse, domestic violence, CPS involvement), or $ One parent wants to move more than one hour away from the area, and the other parent objects.
Partial Custody Evaluation: $120/hour. On rare occasions the Judge refers the family to a partial evaluation to look at limited issues.
Psychological Custody Evaluation: On rare occasions, the Judge may send the parents to a psychologist to determine if one or both parents have mental health issues that put the children at risk or impair the parents= abilities/good judgment. This evaluation involves testing and interviews. The children may or may not be interviewed and/or tested, as well. This evaluation is expensive.
LEGAL TERMS FOR PARENTS
Joint Legal Custody: Parents share legal responsibility for the childBlike decisions about the child=s schooling, extracurricular activities, medical issues, counseling, and any legal issues involving the police or other public entities. Both parents have equal access to all information about the child. Neither parent can make decisions for the child without input from the other parent.	Sole Legal Custody: One parent has sole legal responsibility for the child. The other parent has no legal right to make decisions or have access to information. This is not a common custody arrangement; it is done usually when one parent is absent, in prison, a serious substance abuser, convicted of domestic violence, or a danger to the child.
Joint Physical Custody: Both parents share in the day-to-day schedule of care of the childBfeeding, clothing, transportation, etc. This schedule is the most important element of your parenting plan.	Sole Physical Custody: One parent is responsible for the children all the time, while the other parent has visitation with the children. This custody arrangement is not common; it is usually done when one parent has been absent, in prison, abusing substances, or a danger to the child.
Primary Residence: This indicates with whom the child lives most of the time. The child=s primary residence often determines where the child goes to school. If parents share time equally, there is no Aprimary residence@.