Counseling

23-3510. Counseling. (a) Family counseling. At any time prior or subsequent to the alteration of the parties' marital status the court may order that any party or parties and any of their children be interviewed by a psychiatrist, licensed psychologist or other trained professional in family counseling, approved by the court, for the purpose of determining whether it is in the best interests of any of the parties' children that the parties and any of their children have counseling regarding matters of legal custody, residency, visitation or parenting time. The court shall receive the written opinion of the professional, and the court shall make the opinion available as provided by K.S.A. 23-3210, and amendments thereto. Any professional consulted by the court under this section may be examined as a witness. If the opinion of the professional is that counseling is in the best interests of any of the children, the court may order the parties and any of the children to obtain counseling. Neither party shall be required to obtain counseling pursuant to this section if the party objects thereto because the counseling conflicts with sincerely held religious tenets and practices to which any party is an adherent. (b) Costs. The costs of the counseling shall be taxed to either party as equity and justice require. History: L. 1982, ch. 152, § 16; L. 1986, ch. 299, § 10; L. 2000, ch. 171, § 20; July 1. Source or Prior Law: 60-1617. Law Review and Bar Journal References: "Court-Ordered Mediation: New Opportunities in Family Practice," Brian Moline, 54 J.K.B.A. 97, 99 (1985). "Keeping the Family Out of Court: Court-Ordered Mediation of Custody Disputes Under the Kansas Statutes," Nancy G. Maxwell, 25 W.L.J. 203, 207, 212 (1986). Previous | Next LEGISLATIVE COORDINATING COUNCIL General Policies 2026 Archived LCC Documents Archived LCC Meetings REVISOR OF STATUTES Archived Session Documents Archived School Finance Documents USEFUL LINKS Session Laws Kansas Administrative Regulations OTHER LEGISLATIVE SITES Kansas Legislature Administrative Services Division of Post Audit Research Department Contact Us PDF Help www.ksrevisor.gov 2026