Most people dealing with divorce and child custody issues in Wheat Ridge and Jefferson County are new to the scene and don’t have experience with these legal issues. Child custody has its own set of terms, and just like many other areas of the law, its own set of abbreviations. It’s like learning a whole new language. Here’s a few important abbreviations you may see or hear during your Arvada child custody case and what they stand for.
Important Child Custody Abbreviations You Should Know for Your Arvada Child Custody Case
ADR – Alternative Dispute Resolution: ADR is the technical term for mediation. ADR is not specific to child custody but can also be referred to in divorce or other civil litigation situations.
APR – Allocation of Parental Responsibilities: APR is the child custody plan. It outlines the terms of your child custody arrangement including time spent with the children and who has decision making rights.
CFI – Child and Family Investigator: The CFI is usually someone with a legal, social work, or mental health background tasked with doing interviews and evaluations to determine what is in the child’s best interest. The investigation done by the CFI is usually less expensive than that of the PRE.
ENA – Early Neutral Assessment: ENA is a form of mediation, specific just for child custody. The ENA is a meeting with an impartial third party tasked with assisting both parties in discussing issues surrounding child custody with the goal of coming to an agreement.
PRE – Parental Responsibility Evaluator: The PRE is a usually someone with a mental health background tasked with doing interviews and extensive mental health evaluations to determine what’s in the child’s best interest. The PRE is generally more expensive than a CFI because of the psychological testing involved.
Overwhelmed? How an Experienced Child Custody Attorney Can Help
After reading this list and possibly clicking on the links to learn more about each, you may be feeling overwhelmed. This is not an uncommon feeling when people who have never dealt with the legal system. That’s why it’s best to hire someone who knows the system in and out. They can guide you through everything and explain each aspect, without overwhelming you.
If you are dealing with child custody issues, contact the best family law attorneys from the Pearman Law Firm at 720-259-9528 for a initial phone consultation.
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