Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThis section gives family relations counselors their additional duties: investigating and reporting on a change of custody, conducting investigations and mediation conferences, applying for contempt where visitation orders are disobeyed, and investigating referred criminal family matters.
(a)Under the supervision and direction of the judicial authority, a family relations counselor shall, where there is a motion for change of custody of a child, or where his or her knowledge of the family situation causes him or her to believe that the welfare of the child requires a hearing on a change of custody, upon direction of the judicial authority, be permitted to investigate the domestic and financial situation of the parties and report his or her findings. The judicial authority may thereafter, on its own motion if necessary, hold a hearing thereon after such notice to the parties as it deems proper.
(b)Under the supervision and direction of the judicial authority, the family relations counselor shall conduct such investigations or mediation conferences in domestic relations matters as may be directed by the judicial authority.
(c)Under the supervision and direction of the judicial authority, the family relations counselor may, where necessary, bring an application to the court for a rule requiring a party to appear before the court to show cause why such party should not be held in contempt for failure to comply with an order of the judicial authority for visitation.
(d)Family relations caseworkers, family relations counselors and support enforcement officers shall investigate all criminal matters involving family relations cases referred to them by the prosecuting attorney or by the judicial authority.
End
Amendment History
(P.B. 1978-1997, Sec. 481A.)
Plain-English Summary
Under the supervision and direction of the judicial authority, a family relations counselor may be permitted to investigate the parties’ domestic and financial situation and report the findings — where there is a motion for change of custody, or where the counselor’s own knowledge of the family causes them to believe the child’s welfare requires a hearing on a change of custody. The court may then hold a hearing, on its own motion if necessary, after such notice as it directs.
The counselor also conducts whatever investigations or mediation conferences in domestic relations matters the court directs, and may, where necessary, apply for a rule requiring a party to show cause why they should not be held in contempt for failing to comply with a visitation order.
That third duty is unusual and deliberate: it lets the court’s own officer bring a visitation violation before the judge, rather than leaving enforcement entirely to a parent who may lack a lawyer or the means to file.
Finally, family relations caseworkers, family relations counselors and support enforcement officers investigate all criminal matters involving family relations cases referred to them by the prosecuting attorney or the judicial authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a family relations counselor investigate in Connecticut?
Under the court’s supervision and direction, the parties’ domestic and financial situation where there is a motion for change of custody or where the counselor believes the child’s welfare requires a hearing, along with whatever other investigations or mediation conferences the court directs.
Can a family relations counselor bring a contempt application?
Yes, where necessary, for a rule requiring a party to show cause why they should not be held in contempt for failure to comply with an order for visitation.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 25-69). Prescribed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 51-14). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as:family relations counselor duties ConnecticutPractice Book section 25-69custody investigation CT family servicesvisitation contempt application Connecticut