Ind. Marion Cnty. Fam. Local Rule LR49-FR00-508

On motion of either party with the approval of the court, or on the court's own motion, contested matters

involving child custody and parenting time shall be referred to the Domestic Relations Counseling Bureau

or to other sources for investigation and submission of a report to the court.

A. Domestic Relations Counseling Bureau. The DRCB shall conduct an investigation and report to the

court on all contested matters referred to its attention, including written notice to the court when the

evaluation has been conducted and the anticipated date a report will be submitted. In addition, the Bureau

shall file a written report to the court if an investigation or evaluation is not conducted and the reason it was

not completed.

B. Domestic Relations Counseling Bureau Fees. DRCB services shall be assessed as detailed below.

Fees for DRCB services may be reduced or suspended upon a showing of good cause by the party and a

written determination by the Court.

Intake: $150.00 per person

Limited Issue Evaluation: $250.00 per issue

Site visit: $250.00

Full Evaluation: $1,500.00

Each party will be assessed a $50.00 fee for each missed appointment with the DRCB.

C. Scope. This Rule shall apply to disputes involving child custody or parenting time that may exist either

before or after the entry of a Final Decree of Dissolution of Marriage or an Entry of Paternity. The parties

to contested matters shall meet and cooperate with the Domestic Relations Counseling Bureau as

required.

D. Continuance. It shall be grounds for a continuance that a court ordered custody/parenting time

evaluation or report has not been submitted to the court within seven days prior to the hearing date.

E. Admissibility. A court ordered custody/parenting time evaluation or report shall be admissible into

evidence on the motion of either party without the evaluator needing to be present at the hearing. No

part of this Rule is intended to supplant the right of either party to compel the attendance of the

evaluator or other witnesses as set out in Indiana Trial Rule 45.

F. Release of Custody/Parenting Time Evaluation or Report. Upon written request, a court

ordered custody/parenting time evaluation or report that was submitted only to the Court may be

released to all parties.

G. Physical and Mental Examinations. In all contested family law matters involving child custody or

parenting time, the provisions of Indiana Trial Rule 35 providing for physical or mental examinations by a

physician shall be extended to include examinations and evaluations by a psychologist, therapist or other

qualified evaluator upon order of the court.

H. Non-disclosure of Report. Regardless of whether or not the evaluation/report was court-ordered,

was conducted by the DRCB, or was a private evaluation, the content of the evaluation/ report shall not

be discussed with or in the presence of any minor child of the parties. Violation of this rule may result in

a contempt of court proceeding. This provision regarding contempt applies even if the information is not

provided to the minor child directly by the party, if the party has allowed, directly or indirectly, any other

individual to have access to the evaluation/report, and that individual then discusses the matter with the

child.

Amended effective August 17, 2017