Family Assessments, often referred to as home studies, are written assessments made by Court Service Officers (CSOs) that provide information to District Court Judges regarding the best interest of children when the Judge is asked to make a decision about the children.

• To initiate a Family Assessment, it requires a Court Order. All fee payments shall be paid to the Clerk of the District Court located at 150 W. Santa Fe Street, Olathe, Kansas in the form of cash (exact change), debit/credit card, money order, or cashier’s check.

  Please include your case number and your name on the payment. To make your payment by phone call 1-888-877-0450.

• The report will start by having an individual meeting with each parent in our office.
• Some reports will be limited in scope. This decision will be made by your judge or court staff following initial interviews.
• In most cases, each parent will be interviewed in their home with the children present.
• Step-parents and significant others will be expected to be present at the home visit.
• The CSO will speak with collateral contacts - personal references and professionals who have been involved with the family.
• Professional contacts include teachers, sitters, daycare providers, doctors, counselors, and specialists.
• Further contacts with the parents or the children will be determined by the CSO.
• All cases will be reviewed with others on the Domestic Relations staff before a final report is written.
• A written report will be prepared that will summarize the data and will include the CSO’s assessments and recommendations.
• This written report will be one tool that the judge will use in making decisions about the children.
• A report will take at least 8-10 weeks after your case has been assigned to a CSO.

Our hours are from 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday.  For questions and further information on Family Assessments, call 913-715-7400.