John Butt - Parenting Plan (Custody & Access) Assessments and Voice of the Child Reports.

"In my mind, Mr. Butt represents the gold standard of Custody and Access Assessors."

- Birkin J. Culp, Certified Family Law Specialist -

"I must say that I was very impressed by the testimony of Mr. Butt. His report is well-written and he gave careful and fair answers to questions posed to him by counsel..."

- The Honourable Mr. Justice Turnbull -

"The Court was left with the clear impression that he was a very experienced social worker, who had done a very thorough investigation, and had given recommendations which he truly felt were in (the child's) best interest..."

- The Honourable Mr. Justice Arrell -

“There were many observations and conclusions made by Mr. Butt that were of assistance to this Court in determining the children’s best interests. He made a number of important conclusions that this Court adopts.”

- The Honourable Mme. Justice Martin -

"Mr. Butt is eminently qualified to prepare such reports... He took extensive notes in regard to his investigation, which was thorough in all respects."

- The Honourable Mr. Justice Stead -

“(Mr. Butt) described this case as being the most complicated he had experienced in 350 custody investigations… He could not have been more thorough… It is a comprehensive and lengthy report.”

- The Honourable Mr. Justice Taliano -

SETTLEMENT-FOCUSED CHILD CUSTODY AND ACCESS ASSESSMENTS

Divorce and separation is rarely an easy process, especially when children are involved. A child custody and access assessment relies upon a wide range of detailed information about the family in order to determine the best interests of the child. The assessment addresses the needs and interest of the child and seeks to determine what parenting arrangement can best meet those needs. An Expert in Child Custody and Access Assessments, John has been recognized by the Courts in Ontario as a thorough and unbiased professional.

VIEWS OF THE CHILD REPORTS

Views of the Child (VOC) Reports, sometimes also referred to as Voice of the Child or Hear the Child Reports, are being increasingly used as a means of obtaining the child’s perspective in disputes between parents and/or guardians. The reports are intended to communicate the child’s views, perspectives, and wishes in situations where the parents are separating/divorcing and there is disagreement between individuals on such issues as where a child lives, or when a child should see each parent/guardian and for how long, etc.

Why Choose John?

Mr. Butt is professionally motivated to ensure your child’s best interests are of the highest priority. To determine what those interests are, he conducts very thorough and unbiased assessments in a timely manner. As a result, the outcomes of his investigations and the recommendations are reasoned, balanced, and provide a detailed plan for how best to meet the needs of the children moving forward.

Mr. Butt has 6 years of university education in psychology and couple and family studies, and more than 25 years of clinical experience working with children in context of separation and divorce. He currently works for the Office of the Children’s Lawyer where he has conducted child custody and access investigations for more than 20 years. He has also taught university undergraduate courses in Psychology, and post-graduate courses in Separation, Divorce, and Remarriage.

As a result of his credentials and experience, Mr. Butt is highly regarded by members of the legal community. Judges at all levels of the Courts in Ontario have repeatedly deemed him to be an Expert Witness on matters of child custody and access, and they routinely find his recommendations and conclusions of great assistance to their final conclusions.