Rule 1001.Other Family Law Services; Assessments, Evaluations, and Resources
Part X. Other Resources · Last amended July 1, 2021 · Last verified September 4, 2026
Full Text of Rule 1001
Rule History
(Adopted March 29, 2021, effective July 1, 2021.)
Plain-English Summary
Rule 1001 opens Part X by listing four services the court may order beyond those named elsewhere.
Mental health services
The court may order parties to engage in mental health services, including but not limited to assessment and evaluation, counseling, and other therapeutic interventions. Broad on its face; the specific evaluations with their own procedures live in Rule 416, Rule 1004 and Rule 1005.
Substance abuse
On an allegation or showing that a party has abused drugs or alcohol — including prescription medication — the court may order screening, assessment or evaluation, random testing, and treatment, where custody or parenting time are at issue.
Two limits and one duty. An allegation is enough to trigger the power; the order must be tied to custody or parenting time; and the court must designate the frequency of testing and apportion responsibility for payment. Cost and cadence are decided up front, not left to the testing provider.
Parent education
The court may order parties to engage in parent education and other resources, including parenting skills classes, parental conflict resolution classes, and other resources.
Then a provision worth reading closely, because its two halves point in different directions. The court has discretion to enter default if the responding party fails to attend the parenting class. But failure to attend by the answering party should not prevent a default or default judgment — and that failure does not relieve the party from taking the class, which the court may still enforce through the contempt process.
The practical effect is that a missed parenting class does not stall the case. The divorce proceeds; the class obligation survives it.
Family violence
The rule states the goals plainly: prevention of domestic violence and protection of parties and children from domestic violence. In pursuit of them the court may implement family violence prevention services — assessment and evaluation, intervention, treatment, counseling, and victim advocacy services.
And where the court finds evidence of an act or threat of domestic violence, it may refer the parties to evaluations and services it deems appropriate for the victim, batterer, and child — all three.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the court order drug testing?
Yes. Rule 1001(b) allows the court, on an allegation or showing that a party has abused drugs or alcohol including prescription medication, to order substance abuse screening, assessment or evaluation, random testing, and treatment where custody or parenting time are at issue.
Who pays for the testing?
The court decides. Rule 1001(b) requires the court to designate the frequency of testing and apportion responsibility for payment of screening and testing.
What happens if I do not take the parenting class?
Rule 1001(c) gives the court discretion to enter default if the responding party fails to attend, provides that failure to attend by the answering party should not prevent a default or default judgment, and provides that the failure does not relieve the party from taking the class, which the court may enforce through the contempt process.
What services are available where there is domestic violence?
Rule 1001(d) allows the court to implement family violence prevention services including assessment and evaluation, intervention, treatment, counseling and victim advocacy services, and to refer the parties for evaluations and services for the victim, batterer and child where it finds evidence of an act or threat of domestic violence.
Can the court order counseling?
Rule 1001(a) allows the court to order parties to engage in mental health services, including but not limited to assessment and evaluation, counseling, and other therapeutic interventions.