Voice of the Child Report
Children are rarely asked what they think in a custody dispute — and when they are, it needs to be done carefully, by someone trained to draw out an honest, age-appropriate perspective without putting the child in the middle of the conflict. That’s what a Voice of the Child Report is for: giving courts, mediators, and parents a clear, neutral account of the child’s own views, without turning the child into a witness against either parent.
What the Report Captures
A Voice of the Child Report is built from confidential, age-appropriate interviews conducted directly with the child. The goal isn’t to ask a child to choose a parent — it’s to understand their preferences, comfort level, and perspective on the current arrangement in a way that’s developmentally appropriate and free of leading questions. The findings are written up as a neutral, objective report for use by parents, mediators, and the court.
Voice of the Child Report
The Voice of the Child Report is an essential tool in family law cases where a child’s views and perspective is necessary for decision-making that immediately impacts every aspect of the child’s life. At Ontario Family Solutions, we specialize in culturally competent assessments using an EDI lens, ensuring that children feel safe, comfortable, and respected when sharing their thoughts and wishes.
We conduct confidential interviews with children in an age-appropriate manner, allowing them to express their views about their family situation. Our reports are presented neutrally and objectively, helping parents, mediators, and courts make informed decisions that align with the child’s best interest and well-being.
Who This Is For
This report is appropriate where a child is mature enough to articulate their views and where that input would genuinely inform the decision — not every case, and not every age. It’s commonly requested in contested custody and access matters where the court wants to weigh the child’s perspective alongside the parenting assessment or other evidence.
To ensure the child’s perspective is included in custody and access decisions.
If your child is mature enough to express their preferences and their input would help the court make informed decisions.
Voice of Child Report (VOC) –
VOC reports will be charged at a rate of $250 per hour (+ HST). A set travel fee will be charged for interviews taking place at home or school. A parent can expect that the VOC process typically takes a minimum of 15-20 hours, but this is dependent on each case (e.g. the number of children in a family). If parent interviews are longer or if parents communicate often, then more time is required.
In order to commence the assessment process, a retainer up front fee of $4,000 is required. Parents usually pay through Interac e-transfer but they may also choose to pay by Bank draft, Certified cheque, major Credit cards or can use our 0% interest payment plan option (as indicated in our website).
Parents may agree to equally split the cost of the VOC or they may mutually agree to share the cost in another manner (e.g., proportional to income, one parent paying for all of it). The percentage each parent will pay for the cost of the VOC will be noted in the Retainer agreement.