Terms of Engagement
General Information
Reports prepared by the Expert may be used as evidence in proceedings before the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia.
The Expert's primary duty is to assist the Court. This duty overrides any obligation to the party, parties, solicitor, or organisation instructing the Expert or paying the Expert's fees.
The Expert may be appointed either:
by agreement of the parties (consent appointment); or
pursuant to an Order of the Court made by a Judicial Registrar or Judge.
For the purpose of engagement under these terms, services will be provided by Dr Trea Sanson-Fisher (‘the Expert’), Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, on behalf of Samara Psychology.
Services
Child Impact Assessment
The fee includes:
Video interviews with two parties; and
In-person interviews with up to two children.
Review of information sharing material for up to two hours
Additional fees will apply for interviews involving extra children, parties and for review of material exceeding the included two hours.
Family Report
The fee includes:
Interviews with two parties and up to two children; and
Review of subpoenaed material for up to four hours.
Additional fees will apply for interviews involving extra children or parties and for review of material exceeding the included four hours.
Documentation and Payment
All relevant material, including subpoenaed documents, must be provided electronically to the Expert no later than 14 days before the scheduled interview date.
Documents received by the Expert after interviews have commenced will not be reviewed or considered in the preparation of the report.
Full payment is required at least 21 days before the first scheduled interview date.
Cancellations made within 21 days of the first scheduled interview date are non-refundable.
Cross-Examination Fees
Evidence by Video Link
An advance payment of $900 to the Expert, compensates for being available for up to two hours of cross-examination, is payable no later than 14 days before the scheduled court hearing date.
The fee detailed above is non-refundable.
Any additional time required by the Expert to prepare & participate in court proceedings will be charged at $450 per hour (or part thereof) and invoiced following the hearing.
Chargeable time includes waiting time and commences from the time the Expert is required by the Court to be available or on standby.
Any additional material provided for review by the Expert before cross-examination as part of court proceedings will be charged at $450 per hour and must be paid prior to the commencement of the scheduled hearing.
Evidence in Person
Where the Expert is required to be available to attend the Newcastle Registry to give evidence in person, for up to two hours of cross-examination, an advance fee of $2,200 is payable to the Expert no later than 14 days before the scheduled court hearing date.
The fee detailed above is non-refundable.
Any additional time required by the Expert to prepare, attend &/or participate in court proceedings will be charged at $450 per hour (or part thereof) and invoiced following the hearing.
Chargeable time includes waiting time and commences from the time the Expert is required by the Court to be available or on standby.
Any additional material provided for review by the Expert before cross-examination as part of court proceedings, will be charged at $450 per hour and must be paid prior to the commencement of the scheduled hearing.