{"data":{"id":"us-ct/conn.-gen.-stat.-45a-8d","jurisdiction":"us-ct","citation":"Conn. Gen. Stat. § 45a-8d","heading":"Employment of a family specialist by a Probate Court or Regional Children's Probate Court. Duties of family specialist.","body":"(a) As used in this section, “family specialist” means a staff position established by the Probate Court Budget Committee under section 45a-85 to perform the functions set forth in subsection (c) of this section.\n(b) If authorized by the Probate Court Budget Committee, a Regional Children's Probate Court or a Probate Court that is not located in a region served by a Regional Children's Probate Court may employ a family specialist. A family specialist employed by a Probate Court may, with the consent of the Probate Court judge, perform functions under this section for another Probate Court that is not located in a region served by a Regional Children's Probate Court.\n(c) A family specialist may perform any of the following functions in connection with children's matters, as defined in subsection (a) of section 45a-8a:\n(1) Conduct conferences with interested parties, attorneys for interested parties, representatives from the Department of Children and Families and social service providers, when appropriate;\n(2) Facilitate the development of the family's plan for the care of the minor;\n(3) Facilitate the development of a visitation plan;\n(4) Coordinate with the Department of Children and Families to facilitate a thorough review of the matter being heard;\n(5) Assess whether the family's plan for the care of the minor, if any, is in the minor's best interests;\n(6) Assist the family in accessing community services; and\n(7) Conduct follow-up regarding orders of the court.\n(d) The family specialist may file with the court a report that may include:\n(1) An assessment of the minor's and family's history;\n(2) An assessment of the parent's and any proposed guardian's involvement with the minor;\n(3) Information regarding the physical, social and emotional status of the interested parties;\n(4) An assessment of the family's plan for the care of the minor; and\n(5) Any other information or data that is relevant to determine if the proposed court action is in the best interests of the minor.\n(e) Any report filed by a family specialist pursuant to subsection (d) of this section shall be admissible in evidence. If a party or an attorney for a party notifies the court prior to a scheduled hearing that such party or attorney wishes to examine the family specialist who filed the report, the court shall order such family specialist to appear at the hearing.","path":["TITLE 45a. PROBATE COURTS AND PROCEDURE","CHAPTER 801. PROBATE COURT: ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS","PART I. PROBATE COURTS IN GENERAL"],"source_url":"https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_801.htm#sec_45a-8d","current_through":"Revised to January 1, 2026 (2026 Supplement to the General Statutes of Connecticut, applied over the base revision of January 1, 2025)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-09-06T19:07:15Z","sha256":"e2cc74a230324a1580a59f42f9933aac34148ca35c47b97e743e0906c4e944f7","source_id":"us-ct","stale":false,"prev":"us-ct/conn.-gen.-stat.-45a-8c","next":"us-ct/conn.-gen.-stat.-45a-9"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}