The family report: your interview.
When parents can’t agree, the court often asks an independent professional to meet the family and write a report. It carries weight, so it’s natural to feel nervous. The interview isn’t a test of saying the right things. It’s your chance to show, calmly and with examples, what your child’s life is like and your part in it.
If a child or anyone is in danger now, call 999 (UK), 112 (Ireland), 000 (Australia), 911 (US and Canada) or 111 (New Zealand).
How it works
From the order to the report.
Tap each stage to see what usually happens. Who writes the report, and what you can do afterwards, differ by country: choose yours below.
A general outline. Names and steps differ by country.
General information, checked against official sources on 2 October 2026. It isn’t advice about your case. The rules in their own words ↓
Before your interview
Prepare like it’s about your child.
Because it is. Seven things that help:
- Write a week in your child’s life.School runs, meals, homework, bedtime, activities: what you do, and when. Specific beats general.
- Pick six real examples.Dated moments that show your relationship with your child and how you meet their needs.
- Bring the papers that back it up.School reports and emails, health records, your contact record, messages. In order, with copies.
- Keep the focus on your child.Talk about their needs, not the other parent’s faults. If you have genuine concerns, give facts and dates.
- Have a practical proposal.The arrangement you think is best for your child, and why: days, handovers, school, holidays.
- Don’t coach your child.Don’t tell them what to say, or quiz them afterwards. Let them speak freely.
- Be on time, and be yourself.It’s fine to be nervous. Honest and specific is better than polished.
If you’re worried about your safety in a meeting, tell the report writer or the court in advance.
Free tool
Your notes, on one page.
Six boxes to think through before the interview. It saves as you type, in this browser only, and prints as a clean page to take with you.
Saved only in this browser as you type; nothing is uploaded. On a shared device, print it and clear it when you’re done.
Keep a dated record of time with your child too: the contact log →
See it in the app
Your part in your child’s life, with the papers to show it.
- Add your papers.School letters, messages, your own notes. Before the language model reads a word, names become tags.
- Your part in your child’s week.On one timeline: what a paper shows, what’s only mentioned, and what is your account so far.
- It quotes the law where you live. Coming in early accessThe sections that apply to your case, in the law’s own words, with a link to the official text. Change the country above and it changes too.
- It prepares you for the interview.What the record shows, and what the writer may ask to see. It doesn’t script what you say.
Sample case. Names and papers are fictional.
What the rules say
The rules, in their own words.
Five questions about the report, answered only from the law, the court rules and official guidance, with the passage that answers it highlighted.
Quoted from the official text. It isn’t advice about your case, and laws and rules change: check the official site. In the US and Canada these matters are set by each state and province; California and Ontario are shown as examples.
Questions people ask
The questions that keep you up at night.
Do I have to take part?
The court has ordered the report and expects parents to take part; in New Zealand it can direct you to meet the report writer. If you don’t, the report is written without your side.
What should I say about the other parent?
Keep it about your child. If you have genuine concerns, describe what happened, when, and how it affected your child. Avoid labels and criticism that isn’t about your child.
Can I bring someone with me?
It depends on the service. New Zealand’s Ministry of Justice says you can ask for a support person. Ask the report writer in advance.
Will the writer talk to my child alone?
Usually, depending on their age. Younger children may be observed with each parent instead. Writers take care not to ask children to choose between parents.
Is what I say confidential?
No. What you tell the report writer can go into the report, which the court and the other parent will read.
What if the report gets something wrong?
Point out factual errors quickly and in writing. If you disagree with the recommendations, what you can do depends on where you live: see the rules below. The judge makes the decision, not the report writer.
You’re not alone
You don’t have to do this alone.
Legal aid isn’t available to everyone, so many parents do some or all of this themselves. Free and low-cost help exists: check whether you qualify, and get advice where it counts.
Showing help for England & Wales. Change it with “Where you live” above.
“I built this after going through it myself.” — Andrew, founder
With a lawyer or without one, walk in with your papers in order.
PROVEAiBLE reads your papers, sets out the facts with their pages, shows where the papers disagree, quotes the law for where you live, and prepares your papers for the hearing. It never tells you which legal step to take, or how it will turn out. Law for more countries: coming in early access
Sources, checked 2 October 2026
- England & Wales: Practice Direction 12B (Child Arrangements Programme); Cafcass
- Ireland: Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 (revised); Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 (Child's Views Expert) Regulations 2018, S.I. 587/2018 (as amended by S.I. 271/2026)
- Australia: Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia; Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia; Family Law Act 1975 (Cth)
- United States (California): California Family Code; California Rules of Court; California Rules of Court
- Canada (Ontario): Courts of Justice Act (Ontario); Office of the Children's Lawyer (Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General); Family Law Rules, O. Reg. 114/99
- New Zealand: Ministry of Justice (NZ); Care of Children Act 2004 (NZ)
General information, not legal advice. Laws, rules and court processes change; check the official pages and your own papers before you act.