This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Uniform Judicial Interview of Children Act".
§ 3401.Uniform Judicial Interview of Children Act - Short Title
Chapter 41A: Structured Settlement Protection Act of 2001 · Not amended since adoption on record · Last verified August 3, 2026
In one sentenceNames Oklahoma's new law on when and how judges may question children directly in custody, adoption, guardianship, and similar cases the "Uniform Judicial Interview of Children Act," effective November 1, 2026.
Full Text of § 3401
Amendment History
Added by Laws 2026, c. 298,s. 1, eff. 11/1/2026.
Plain-English Summary
Section 3401 gives this new chapter its name: the "Uniform Judicial Interview of Children Act." It takes effect November 1, 2026, and sets rules for when and how a judge may interview a child directly -- outside sworn testimony -- in a custody, adoption, guardianship, or similar case, instead of relying only on what the adults and experts report about what the child wants.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Uniform Judicial Interview of Children Act?
It's the short title for Sections 3401 through 3408, a law effective November 1, 2026, that governs when and how a judge may conduct a private interview with a child in a custody, adoption, guardianship, or similar proceeding.
Is a judicial interview the same as the child testifying in court?
No. Section 3402 defines a "judicial interview" as communication not under oath between the child and the judicial officer, distinct from "testimony," which the act defines as evidence given under oath.
When does this law take effect?
November 1, 2026.
Source & verification. Section text is reproduced verbatim from
Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enacted by the Oklahoma Legislature.
Last verified August 3, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as: uniform judicial interview of children act oklahomajudge interviewing child custody case oklahoma12 O.S. § 3401child interview family court oklahoma 2026