Voice of the Child Reports
A Voice of the Child Report (VCR) is a child-focused process that provides children with a safe and respectful opportunity to share their views and preferences.
A Voice of the Child Report (VCR) is a child-focused process that provides children with a safe and respectful opportunity to share their views and preferences. The report is prepared by a qualified professional and helps parents, legal counsel, mediators, parenting coordinators and the court better understand the child’s perspective, without placing the child in the middle of parental conflict.
The purpose of a Voice of the Child Report is to reduce the emotional impact of separation or divorce on children while supporting informed decision-making by the adults involved.
The process emphasizes neutrality, transparency, and respect for the child’s autonomy.
Participation in a Voice of the Child Report requires the informed consent of all parties, including the child(ren). Unlike parenting assessments or evaluative reports, the professional completing the VCR does not provide opinions, recommendations, or conclusions about parenting time, decision-making responsibility, or where a child should reside.
Understanding the Voice
of Child Report
A Voice of the Child Report (VCR) may be appropriate for families experiencing separation or divorce when parents are seeking a clearer understanding of their child’s views and preferences about matters affecting their daily life.
Voice of the Child Reports are often used in court-related matters but may also be helpful during negotiation, mediation, or other alternative dispute resolution processes. When introduced early, the report can help parents better understand their child’s perspective and may support more informed and child-focused decision-making.
A Voice of the Child Report documents the child’s expressed views and preferences about matters that affect their daily life and the issues in dispute between their parents. The focus remains on what the child chooses to share, using their own words as much as possible, within a developmentally appropriate framework.
The report allows parents to hear their child’s voice through a neutral third party, reducing the likelihood that the child feels pressured to speak directly to one parent, both parents, or the court.
Supported Families
Who a Voice of the Child Report is For
This process is most helpful when:
Parents are facing focused disputes related to parenting arrangements or decision-making
The child is generally over the age of seven & developmentally able to participate
The child is willing to share their views & preferences
All parties provide informed consent to the process
There are no significant safety, protection, or complex clinical concerns
Focus Areas
What a Voice of the Child Report Includes
Key features of the VCR include:
A neutral & child-centred process
Direct input from the child, shared voluntarily
Clear boundaries regarding the scope of the report
No assessment of parenting capacity or best interests
Report Overview
What a Voice of the Child Report is, & is Not
It is important to understand the limits of a Voice of the Child Report. A VCR:
A Voice of the Child Report provides children with a structured and respectful opportunity to share their views and preferences about matters affecting their lives during separation or divorce.
The role of the professional is to document and communicate what the child chooses to share. The report reflects the child’s words and perspectives without interpretation or evaluation.
Does not determine the child’s “best interests”
Does not provide recommendations or opinions about parenting arrangements
Does not give the child authority to decide where they will live
Is not a parenting assessment
.
Important Considerations
When a Voice of the Child
Report May Not Be Appropriate
While a Voice of the Child Report can be a helpful tool in many situations, it may not be suitable in circumstances where additional clinical or safety concerns are present. Participation in a Voice of the Child Report is either voluntary or ordered by the court.
A VCR may not be appropriate when:
There are significant power imbalances between parents
Intimate partner violence or coercive control is present
There are concerns about abuse or neglect
Child protection services are actively involved
The child does not wish to participate or does not provide consent
When Rise Up Counselling is retained to complete a Voice of the Child Report, the process typically includes:
- Consultation with referring lawyers, mediators, or parenting coordinators
- An individual intake meeting with each parent
- Two individual meetings with the child (each parent brings the child once)
- Feedback with professionals and parents
- Preparation of the written report
Each parent meets privately with the social worker to complete intake, review expectations, and confirm consent. The child then meets individually with the social worker on two separate occasions in a neutral and supportive setting. During the first child meeting, the process is explained in age-appropriate language, and the child is reminded that they control what information is shared.
Only the information the child agrees to include is documented in the report. Once the report is completed, it is shared with both parents, ideally at the same time.
No collateral information is gathered as part of the Voice of the Child Report process. External professionals, including therapists, teachers, child welfare workers, or other service providers, are not contacted or asked to participate. This ensures the process remains focused, contained, and non-evaluative.
While no formal designation is required to prepare a Voice of the Child Report, it is strongly recommended that the professional:
- Has extensive experience working with children
- Is skilled in interviewing children in a neutral, developmentally appropriate manner
- Has completed training specific to Voice of the Child process
- Understands the legal and ethical boundaries of the role
Appropriate experience and training are essential to ensuring the process is conducted safely and appropriately.
In most cases, parents are responsible for the cost of the Voice of the Child Report. Even where one parent pays a greater share of the fee, the professional is retained jointly by both parents and remains neutral throughout the process.
In some circumstances, the court may order that a Voice of the Child Report be completed and may provide direction regarding the professional to be retained and how payment will be allocated.
The fee for a Voice of the Child Report is:
- $2,600 for one child
- $600 for each additional child
This fee includes parent intake meetings, child meetings, report preparation, feedback sessions, and consultation with counsel where required.
Moving Forward
A Voice of the Child Report can be a valuable tool for hearing a child’s voice in a respectful, contained, and child-centred way. If you are considering this process and would like to determine whether it is appropriate for your family or your client, we encourage you to contact us to discuss next steps