Colo. Rev. Stat. § 14-10-126, Interviews

(1) Upon a motion, the court may interview the child in chambers to ascertain the child's wishes as to the allocation of parental responsibilities. The court may permit counsel or a licensed legal paraprofessional to be present at the interview. The court shall cause a record of the interview to be made, and the interview must be made part of the record in the case. The court shall make findings in its order that explain the reason why the court granted or denied a request to interview the child in chambers.

(2) The court shall give paramount consideration to cases involving an allegation made by a child regarding domestic violence, child abuse or neglect, or child sexual abuse in determining whether to grant a request to interview a child in chambers.

(3) The court may seek the advice of professional personnel whether or not they are employed on a regular basis by the court. The advice given must be in writing and must be made available by the court to counsel of record or licensed legal paraprofessional of record, parties, and other expert witnesses upon request, but the advice must otherwise be confidential, be sealed, and not be open to inspection, except by consent of the court. Counsel or a licensed legal paraprofessional may call for cross-examination of any professional personnel consulted by the court.

Source: L. 71: R&RE, p. 530, � 1. C.R.S. 1963: � 46-1-26. L. 98: (1) amended, p. 1384, � 12, effective February 1, 1999. L. 2024: Entire section amended, (HB 24-1291), ch. 131, p. 470, � 18, effective August 7; entire section amended, (HB 24-1350), ch. 344, p. 2338, � 4, effective August 7.

Editor's note: Amendments to this section by HB 24-1350 were harmonized in part with and superseded in part by HB 24-1291.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 24-1350, see section 1 of chapter 344, Session Laws of Colorado 2024.

14-10-127. Evaluation and reports - training and qualifications of evaluators - disclosure - definitions. (1) (a) (I) (A) In all proceedings concerning the allocation of parental responsibilities with respect to a child, the court may, upon motion of either party or upon its own motion, order any evaluator to perform an evaluation and file a written report concerning the disputed issues relating to the allocation of parental responsibilities for the child, unless the motion by either party is made for the purpose of delaying the proceedings. The purpose of the evaluation and report is to assist in determining the best interests of the child, with the child's safety always paramount. The evaluation and subsequent report must focus on the best interests of the child and the factors set forth in sections 14-10-124 and 14-10-129 in any post-decree or relocation case. In addition, the evaluator shall assess a party's parenting attributes as those attributes relate to the best interests of the child and consider any psychological needs of the child when making recommendations concerning decision-making and parenting time for the written report. In the written report, the evaluator shall provide to the court, for the court to consider, options that serve the best interests of the child.

(B) Any court or any personnel of a county or district department of human or social services appointed by the court to do an evaluation pursuant to this section must be qualified pursuant to subsection (4) of this section and be selected from an eligibility roster established pursuant to applicable chief justice directive.

(C) When a mental health professional performs the evaluation, the court shall appoint or approve the selection of the mental health professional as the evaluator. Within seven days after the appointment, the evaluator shall comply with the disclosure provisions of subsection (1.2) of this section. The court shall, at the time of the evaluator's appointment, order one or more of the parties to deposit a reasonable sum with the court to pay the cost of the evaluation. The court may order the reasonable charge for the evaluation and report to be assessed as costs between the parties at the time the evaluation is completed.

(I.3) In determining whether to order an evaluation pursuant to this section, in addition to any other considerations the court deems relevant, the court shall consider:

(A) Whether an investigation by a child and family investigator pursuant to section 14-10-116.5 would be sufficient or appropriate given the scope or nature of the disputed issues relating to the allocation of parental responsibilities for the child;

(B) Whether an evaluation pursuant to this section is necessary to assist the court in determining the best interests of the child; and

(I.5) A party may request a supplemental evaluation to the evaluation ordered pursuant to subsection (1)(a)(I) of this section. The court shall appoint another qualified evaluator to perform the supplemental evaluation at the initial expense of the moving party. The evaluator appointed to perform the supplemental evaluation shall comply with the disclosure provisions of subsection (1.2) of this section. The court shall not order a supplemental evaluation if it determines that any of the following applies, based on motion and supporting affidavits:

(A) Such motion is interposed for purposes of delay;

(B) A party objects, and the party who objects or the child has a physical or mental condition that would make it harmful for such party or the child to participate in the supplemental evaluation;

(D) The moving party has failed or refused to cooperate with the first evaluation;

(E) The weight of the evidence other than the evaluation concerning the allocation of parental responsibilities or parenting time by the mental health professional demonstrates that a second evaluation would not be of benefit to the court in determining the allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time; or

(F) In addition to the evaluation ordered pursuant to subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (a), there has been an investigation and report prepared by a child and family investigator pursuant to section 14-10-116.5, and the court finds that a supplemental evaluation concerning parental responsibilities will not serve the best interests of the child.

(II) Each party and the child, if possible, shall cooperate in the supplemental evaluation. If the court finds that the supplemental evaluation was necessary and materially assisted the court, the court may order the costs of such supplemental evaluation to be assessed as costs between the parties. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the report is confidential and is not available for public inspection unless by order of court. The cost of each department of human services evaluation is based on an ability to pay and must be assessed as part of the costs of the action or proceeding, and, upon receipt of such sum by the clerk of court, the clerk of court shall transmit the money to the department or agency performing the evaluation.

(b) The person signing a report or evaluation and supervising its preparation must be a licensed mental health professional. The licensed mental health professional signing a report or evaluation must be qualified as competent, by training and experience, as described in subsection (4) of this section. Unlicensed associates or other persons may work with the mental health professional to prepare the report.

(c) An evaluator shall strive to engage in culturally informed and nondiscriminatory practices, and strive to avoid conflicts of interest or multiple relationships in conducting evaluations.

(1.2) (a) Within seven days after the appointment, the evaluator shall disclose to each party, attorneys or licensed legal paraprofessionals of record, and the court any familial, financial, or social relationship that the evaluator has or has had with the child, either party, the attorneys or licensed legal paraprofessionals of record, or the judicial officer and, if a relationship exists, the nature of the relationship.

(b) Based on the disclosure required pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subsection (1.2), the court may, in its discretion, terminate the appointment and appoint a different evaluator in the proceedings. A party has seven days from the date of the disclosure to object to the appointment based upon information contained in the disclosure. If a party objects to the appointment, the court shall appoint a different person or confirm the appointment within seven days after the date of the party's objection. If no party timely objects to the appointment, then the appointment is deemed confirmed.

(1.5) (a) Prior to performing any duties, an evaluator appointed by the court shall provide a written disclosure to each party and each party's attorney, if applicable. At a minimum, the written disclosure must include:

(I) A description of the evaluator's specific duties, responsibilities, and limitations, which must be consistent with this article 10;

(II) An acknowledgment that the evaluator will comply with applicable state and federal laws in acting as an evaluator, including all laws pursuant to this article 10;

(III) An acknowledgment that the evaluator is compliant with training requirements pursuant to section 14-10-127.5 (5);

(IV) A comprehensive description of the evaluator's financial policies, including billing practices and rates for performance of duties, costs, fees, and disbursements; and

(V) Information on filing a complaint pursuant to subsection (9) of this section and with the state court administrator regarding the evaluator pursuant to section 13-3-101 (3.5), including the current contact information for the state court administrator.

(b) Pursuant to a chief justice directive, the court may cap an evaluator's fees and allocate responsibility for costs.

(2) In preparing the report concerning a child, the evaluator may consult any person who may have information about the child and the child's potential parenting arrangements. Upon order of the court, the evaluator may refer the child to other professional personnel for diagnosis. The evaluator may consult with and obtain information from medical, mental health, educational, or other expert persons who have served the child in the past without obtaining the consent of the parent or the person allocated parental responsibilities for the child; but the child's consent must be obtained if the child has reached the age of fifteen years unless the court finds that the child lacks mental capacity to consent. If the requirements of subsections (3) to (7) of this section are fulfilled, the evaluator's report may be received in evidence at the hearing.

(3) The evaluator shall mail the report to the court and to counsel or a licensed legal paraprofessional, and to any party not represented by counsel or a licensed legal paraprofessional, at least twenty-one days prior to the hearing. The evaluator shall make available to counsel or the licensed legal paraprofessional, and to any party not represented by counsel or a licensed legal paraprofessional, the evaluator's file of underlying data and reports, complete texts of diagnostic reports made to the evaluator pursuant to subsections (2), (5), and (6) of this section, and the names and addresses of all persons whom the evaluator has consulted. Any party to the proceeding may call the evaluator and any person with whom the evaluator has consulted for cross-examination. A party shall not waive the party's right of cross-examination prior to the hearing.

(4) A person shall not testify as an expert witness regarding a parental responsibilities or parenting time evaluation that the person has performed pursuant to this section unless the court finds that the person is qualified as competent, by training and experience, in the areas of:

(a) The effects of divorce and remarriage on children, adults, and families;

(a.5) (I) The effects of domestic violence on children, adults, and families, including the connection between domestic violence and trauma on children, coercive control, child abuse, and child sexual abuse in accordance with section 14-10-127.5. The person's training and experience must be provided by recognized sources with expertise in domestic violence and the traumatic effects of domestic violence and coercive control in accordance with section 14-10-127.5. Initial and ongoing training must include, at a minimum:

(A) No less than twenty hours of initial training, required pursuant to section 14-10-127.5 (5)(a)(I); and

(B) No less than fifteen hours of ongoing training every five years, required pursuant to section 14-10-127.5 (5)(a)(II).

(II) Notwithstanding subsection (4)(a.5)(I) of this section, an evaluator who completed the initial training required pursuant to section 14-10-127.5 (5)(a)(I) on or before January 1, 2025, is not required to complete supplemental training or the entire training again for the purpose of completing interviewing and forensic report writing training required pursuant to section 14-10-127.5 (5)(b)(IX) and (5)(b)(X).

(b) Appropriate parenting techniques;

(d) Child and adult psychopathology;

(e) Applicable clinical assessment techniques; and

(f) Applicable legal and ethical requirements of parental responsibilities evaluation.

(5) If an evaluation is indicated in an area beyond the training or experience of the evaluator, the evaluator shall consult with a mental health professional qualified by training or experience, as described in subsection (4) of this section, in that area. Such areas may include, but are not limited to, domestic violence, child abuse, child sexual abuse, alcohol or substance abuse, or psychological testing.

(6) (a) An evaluator may make specific reports when the evaluator has interviewed and assessed all parties to the dispute, assessed the quality of the relationship, or the potential for establishing a quality relationship, between the child and each of the parties, and had access to pertinent information from outside sources.

(b) An evaluator may make reports even though all parties and the child have not been evaluated by the same evaluator in the following circumstances, if the evaluator states with particularity the limitations of the evaluator's findings and reports:

(I) Any of the parties reside outside Colorado and it would not be feasible for all parties and the child to be evaluated by the same mental health professional; or

(II) One party refuses or is unable to cooperate with the court-ordered evaluation; or

(III) The mental health professional is a member of a team of professionals that performed the evaluation and is presenting recommendations of the team that has interviewed and assessed all parties to the dispute.

(7) (a) A written report of the evaluation shall be provided to the court and to the parties pursuant to subsection (3) of this section.

(b) The report of the evaluation shall include, but need not be limited to, the following information:

(I) A description of the procedures employed during the evaluation;

(II) A report of the data collected;

(III) A conclusion that explains how the resulting recommendations were reached from the data collected, with specific reference to criteria listed in section 14-10-124 (1.5), and, if applicable, to the criteria listed in section 14-10-131, and their relationship to the results of the evaluation;

(IV) Recommendations concerning the allocation of parental responsibilities for the child, including decision-making responsibility, parenting time, and other considerations; and

(V) An explanation of any limitations in the evaluations or any reservations regarding the resulting recommendations.

(b.3) (I) The evaluator shall include in the written report all information acquired during the evaluation concerning domestic violence and child abuse, including:

(A) Child sexual abuse;

(B) Physical abuse;

(D) Coercive control;

(E) Trauma; and

(F) Victim and perpetrator behavioral patterns and relationship dynamics.

(II) The evaluator shall include in the written report all information pursuant to subsection (7)(b.3)(I) of this section, regardless of:

(A) The manner in which the information was acquired, including by accusation; evidence of a criminal charge, plea, deferred judgment, or conviction; or evidence of a protection order; or

(B) Who presented the information, including a child.

(b.7) The evaluator shall strive to ensure that the written report does not include information or recommendations that are biased, including a bias regarding religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, culture, race, ethnicity, national origin, or disability.

(8) All evaluations and reports, including but not limited to supplemental evaluations and related medical and mental health information, that are submitted to the court pursuant to this section shall be deemed confidential without the necessity of filing a motion to seal or otherwise limit access to the court file under the Colorado rules of civil procedure. An evaluation or report that is deemed confidential under this subsection (8) shall not be made available for public inspection without an order of the court authorizing public inspection.

(9) On and after January 1, 2022, a party wishing to file a complaint related to a person's duties as an evaluator shall file such complaint in accordance with the applicable provisions in chief justice directives.

(10) The requirements of this section apply only to activities related to work performed that is related to proceedings concerning the allocation of parental responsibilities. All other licensure requirements for mental health professionals, as established by the department of regulatory agencies and set forth in article 245 of title 12, still apply.

(11) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) Coercive control means a pattern of threatening, humiliating, or intimidating actions, including assaults or other abuse, that is used to harm, punish, or frighten an individual. Coercive control includes a pattern of behavior that takes away the individual's liberty or freedom and strips away the individual's sense of self, including the individual's bodily integrity and human rights. Coercive control includes isolating the individual from support, exploiting the individual, depriving the individual of independence, and regulating the individual's everyday behavior. Coercive control includes, but is not limited to, any of the following:

(I) Isolating the individual from friends and family;

(II) Monitoring, surveilling, regulating, or controlling the individual's, or the individual's child's or relative's, finances, economic resources, or access to services;

(III) Monitoring, surveilling, regulating, or controlling the individual's, or the individual's child's or relative's, activities, communications, or movements, including through technology;

(IV) Name-calling, degrading, or demeaning the individual, or the individual's child or relative, on a frequent basis;

(V) Threatening to harm or kill the individual or the individual's child or relative, including wearing, accessing, displaying, using, or cleaning a weapon in an intimidating or threatening manner;

(VI) Threatening to commit suicide or otherwise harm one's own person, when used as a method of coercion, control, punishment, intimidation, or retaliation against the person;

(VII) Threatening to harm or kill an animal with which the individual or the individual's child or relative has an emotional bond;

(VIII) Threatening to publish the individual's, or the individual's child's or relative's, sensitive personal information, including sexually explicit material, or make reports to the police or authorities;

(IX) Damaging the individual's, or the individual's child's or relative's, property or household goods;

(X) Threatening the individual, or the individual's child or relative, with deportation or contacting authorities based on perceived or actual immigration status, withholding essential documents required for immigration, or threatening to withdraw or interfere with an active immigration application or process; or

(XI) Forcing the individual, or the individual's child or relative, to take part in criminal activities or child abuse.

(b) Evaluator means any county or district department of human or social services or a licensed mental health professional qualified pursuant to subsection (4) of this section.

Source: L. 71: R&RE, p. 530, � 1. C.R.S. 1963: � 46-1-27. L. 76: (1) amended, p. 529, � 1, effective April 16. L. 79: (1) amended, p. 646, � 1, effective March 2. L. 83: Entire section amended, p. 649, � 1, effective June 10. L. 88: Entire section amended, p. 639, � 1, effective May 11. L. 93: IP(1)(a)(I), IP(4), and (7)(b)(IV) amended, p. 577, � 10, effective July 1. L. 94: (1)(a)(II) amended, p. 2645, � 108, effective July 1. L. 96: (1)(b) amended, p. 1287, � 1, effective January 1, 1997. L. 98: IP(1)(a)(I), (2), (3), (4), (6)(b), and (7) amended, p. 1384, � 13, effective February 1, 1999. L. 2005: (1)(a) amended, p. 1224, � 1, effective June 3; (1)(a)(I.5)(F) amended, p. 963, � 10, effective July 1. L. 2006: (8) added, p. 447, � 1, effective April 13. L. 2012: (1)(a)(I) and IP(1)(a)(I.5) amended and (1.2) added, (SB 12-056), ch. 108, p. 368, � 3, effective July 1; (3) amended, (SB 12-175), ch. 208, p. 832, � 30, effective July 1. L. 2013: (1)(a)(I) amended and (1)(a)(I.3) added, (HB 13-1259), ch. 218, p. 1000, � 3, effective July 1. L. 2015: (1)(a)(II) amended, (SB 15-099), ch. 99, p. 289, � 1, effective August 5. L. 2018: (1)(a)(I) amended, (SB 18-092), ch. 38, p. 401, � 15, effective August 8. L. 2021: (1)(a)(I), IP(1)(a)(I.5), (1)(a)(II), (1)(b), IP(4), (5), (6)(a), and IP(6)(b) amended and (1)(c), (4)(a.5), (6)(c), (9), and (10) added (HB 21-1228), ch. 292, p. 1732, � 6, effective June 22. L. 2023: (4)(a.5) amended, (HB 23-1178), ch. 266, p. 1584, � 3, effective May 25. L. 2024: (1)(a)(I)(A), IP(4), and (4)(a.5) amended and (1.5), (7)(b.3), (7)(b.7), and (11) added (HB 24-1350), ch. 344, p. 2339, � 5, effective August 7; (1.2)(a) and (3) amended, (HB 24-1291), ch. 131, p. 471, � 19, effective August 7. L. 2025: (4)(a.5)(I)(B) amended, (SB 25-300), ch. 428, p. 2442, � 15, effective August 6.

Cross references: (1) For the licensing of mental health professionals, see article 245 of title 12.

(2) For the legislative declaration contained in the 1993 act amending the introductory portions to subsections (1)(a)(I) and (4) and subsection (7)(b)(IV), see section 1 of chapter 165, Session Laws of Colorado 1993. For the legislative declaration contained in the 1994 act amending subsection (1)(a)(II), see section 1 of chapter 345, Session Laws of Colorado 1994. For the legislative declarations contained in the 2005 act amending subsection (1)(a)(I.5)(F), see sections 1 and 3 of chapter 244, Session Laws of Colorado 2005. For the legislative declaration in SB 18-092, see section 1 of chapter 38, Session Laws of Colorado 2018. For the legislative declaration in HB 21-1228, see section 1 of chapter 292, Session Laws of Colorado 2021. For the legislative declaration in HB 24-1350, see section 1 of chapter 344, Session Laws of Colorado 2024.

14-10-127.5. Domestic violence training for court personnel - expert testimony - child placement decisions - legislative declaration - definitions. (1) (a) The general assembly finds and declares that:

(I) Approximately fifteen million children are exposed each year to domestic violence or child abuse;

(II) Most child abuse is perpetrated in the family and by a parent;

(III) A child's risk of abuse increases after a perpetrator of intimate partner violence separates from the perpetrator's domestic partner, even when the perpetrator had not directly abused the child previously;

(IV) Empirical research indicates that allegations of child physical and sexual abuse are regularly discounted by courts when raised in parental allocation cases. Courts believe fewer than one-fourth of claims that a parent has committed child physical or sexual abuse.

(V) In parental allocation cases in which an alleged or known abusive parent claims alienation from the child, courts are four times more likely to disbelieve the parent who claims child physical or sexual abuse;

(VI) Research shows that courts grant custody or unprotected parenting time to an alleged or known abusive parent;

(VII) Since 2008, nearly eight hundred children have been murdered by a divorcing or separating parent, with more than one hundred murders occurring after a court ordered the child into contact with the alleged or known abusive parent despite objections from the parent who claimed child physical or sexual abuse;

(VIII) Abusive parents frequently claim that abuse allegations are false to minimize or deny reports of abuse. Experts who testify against abuse allegations often lack expertise in the relevant type of alleged abuse, relying on unproven theories.

(IX) Judges presiding over parental allocation cases with allegations of child abuse, child sexual abuse, and domestic violence are rarely required to receive training on these subjects.

(b) The general assembly therefore declares that:

(I) A child's safety is the first priority of the court in a proceeding affecting the child's care and custody;

(II) Strengthening the ability of the courts to recognize and adjudicate adult and child abuse allegations based on valid, admissible evidence will allow courts to enter orders that protect and minimize risk of harm to the child; and

(III) Court personnel involved in cases containing abuse allegations who receive trauma-informed training on the dynamics, signs, and impacts of child abuse, child sexual abuse, and intimate partner violence will help protect and minimize risk of harm to the child.

(2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(a) Accused party means a parent in a case to determine parental responsibilities who has been accused of domestic violence or child abuse, including child sexual abuse.

(a.3) Coercive control means a pattern of threatening, humiliating, or intimidating actions, including assaults or other abuse, that is used to harm, punish, or frighten an individual. Coercive control includes a pattern of behavior that takes away the individual's liberty or freedom and strips away the individual's sense of self, including the individual's bodily integrity and human rights. Coercive control includes isolating the individual from support, exploiting the individual, depriving the individual of independence, and regulating the individual's everyday behavior. Coercive control includes, but is not limited to, any of the following: