Section 551.331 – Short Title.

551.331 Short title. Sec. 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “circuit court family counseling services act”. History: 1964, Act 155, Eff. Aug. 28, 1964 ;– Am. 1980, Act 16, Imd. Eff. Feb. 14, 1980

Section 551.332 – Family Counseling Services; Creation; Purpose; Establishment in Judicial Circuits; Appropriations; Participation in Funding; Agreement; Limitation.

551.332 Family counseling services; creation; purpose; establishment in judicial circuits; appropriations; participation in funding; agreement; limitation. Sec. 2. (1) For the purpose of preserving and improving family life through competent family counseling, family counseling services which shall include domestic violence and child abuse, are created as provided in this section. In each judicial circuit, the […]

Section 551.333 – Family Counseling Service as Arm of Circuit Court; Merger With Other Court Services; Contracts; Purchase of Services; Direct Service Delivery.

551.333 Family counseling service as arm of circuit court; merger with other court services; contracts; purchase of services; direct service delivery. Sec. 3. The circuit court family counseling service is an arm of the circuit court. It may be merged with other court services or maintained separately, as the court determines. The circuit court may […]

Section 551.334 – Director; Qualifications; Employment, Term, and Compensation; Compensation of Staff.

551.334 Director; qualifications; employment, term, and compensation; compensation of staff. Sec. 4. The chief executive officer of the circuit court family counseling service is the director. The director shall be qualified by training and experience to render family counseling service and shall be employed by, and serve at the pleasure of, the circuit court. The […]

Section 551.335 – Hiring of Professional and Clerical Staff.

551.335 Hiring of professional and clerical staff. Sec. 5. The director of a circuit court family counseling service may hire professional and clerical staff with the approval of the circuit court. History: 1964, Act 155, Eff. Aug. 28, 1964 ;– Am. 1980, Act 16, Imd. Eff. Feb. 14, 1980

Section 551.336 – Rules and Standards of Eligibility for Counseling; Priority; Residential Requirements.

551.336 Rules and standards of eligibility for counseling; priority; residential requirements. Sec. 6. The circuit court shall prescribe rules and standards of eligibility for counseling. First priority for service shall be given to domestic relations actions in which a complaint or motion has been filed in the circuit court. A family is eligible for counseling […]

Section 551.337 – Referrals to Agencies Outside Court; Conferences.

551.337 Referrals to agencies outside court; conferences. Sec. 7. The director of a circuit court family counseling service shall advise spouses fully of the existence of qualified family counseling services outside the court so that they may freely make an informed choice of the outside service. In order to assure maximum use of community resources, […]

Section 551.338 – Family Counseling Service as Impartial, Unbiased Resource in Evaluating Problems.

551.338 Family counseling service as impartial, unbiased resource in evaluating problems. Sec. 8. Upon specific referral from the court or at the request and agreement of the litigants, the family counseling service may be instructed to serve as an impartial, unbiased resource in evaluating problems involving custody of minor children, parenting time of minor children, […]

Section 551.339 – Confidentiality; Privileged Communications; Exemption.

551.339 Confidentiality; privileged communications; exemption. Sec. 9. (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), a communication between a counselor in the family counseling service and a person who is counseled is confidential. The secrecy of the communication shall be preserved inviolate as a privileged communication which privilege cannot be waived. The communication shall not be […]

Section 551.340 – Fee Schedule; Disposition of Revenues.

551.340 Fee schedule; disposition of revenues. Sec. 10. The family counseling service may charge fees for its counseling in accordance with a fee schedule prescribed by the circuit court with the advice and consent of the county board of commissioners. The county board of commissioners may designate a committee of its members to act in […]

Section 551.341 – Powers of Family Counseling Service.

551.341 Powers of family counseling service. Sec. 11. The family counseling service may engage in research, educational efforts, public information service, or other endeavors related to the purpose and policy of this act as approved by the circuit court. History: 1964, Act 155, Eff. Aug. 28, 1964 ;– Am. 1980, Act 16, Imd. Eff. Feb. […]

Section 551.342 – Statutory Provisions Not Changed or Affected; Conferences or Interviews Not Considered as Condonation.

551.342 Statutory provisions not changed or affected; conferences or interviews not considered as condonation. Sec. 12. This act shall not change or affect grounds for divorce, separation, or other statutory provisions relating to domestic relations actions. Conferences or interviews with family counselors or a person or agency to whom parties may be referred shall not […]

Section 551.343 – Multiple-Judge Circuit; Majority of Judges.

551.343 Multiple-judge circuit; majority of judges. Sec. 13. In a multiple-judge circuit any act, decision or recommendation by the circuit court, provided for by this act, shall be deemed accomplished by a vote of a majority of the judges of the circuit. History: 1964, Act 155, Eff. Aug. 28, 1964

Section 551.344 – Submission to Family Counseling Not Required.

551.344 Submission to family counseling not required. Sec. 14. This act shall not be construed to require a person who objects to family counseling to submit to family counseling. History: 1964, Act 155, Eff. Aug. 28, 1964 ;– Am. 1980, Act 16, Imd. Eff. Feb. 14, 1980