The Child and Family Investigator (CFI) in Colorado

Child and Family Investigator (CFI)

Formerly known as a "Special Advocate", the role of the Child and Family Investigator was created by the Colorado Revised statutes in 2005. This person is called in by the court at the request of one of the parties in order to help with the allocation of parental responsibilities in a Colorado divorce case. Whether or not you should make the request for a CFI is something you should discuss with your Colorado Springs divorce lawyer.

We have seen in an earlier article about how the court can appoint a child's legal representative who acts as a separate attorney for the the child in a divorce proceeding. While the functions of a CFI and a representative of the child overlap in many ways, they are actually quite different from each other. For one thing, a person cannot both be a CFI and a child's representative at the same time.

Also, while the legal attorney of the child has to be a lawyer, the CFI can be any number of things including a medical worker or an attorney. Another difference is that the CFI can be called as a witness.

Functions of a CFI

The scope of a CFI can be markedly different from that of a legal attorney. The court sets out the responsibilities of the CFI in an "appointment order" which he or she must stick to. The CFI will then be called upon to make recommendations to the court. These carry great weight in the determination of the final judgment.

A primary duty of the CFI is to take into considerations the best interests of the child. Like the legal reprensentative, he or she isn't bound by the child's wishes in any matter though it is required that they be mentioned in the final report. The costs of the CFI are to be borne by both the parties in the divorce unless they are declared indigent.

There isn't any set technique for a CFI to about his or her business. The end result is the report to the court and at the very least, this will involve extended meetings with the parents, the child and any other significant person involved. He or she will also examine all relevant records pertaining to the matter in order to complete the evaluation.

Consulting with your Colorado Springs divorce lawyer

Practically, it's shown that it makes a difference as to which party requests and recommends a CFI. It's important to consult with your attorney before accepting a recommendation or making a request for a CFI. Our Clawson & Clawson lawyers will guide you through these situations so that you don't make a fatal mistake. Contact us for a free initial consultation.