COURT & LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

• FBTA clinicians do not provide disability determination evaluations or custody studies.  FBTA clinicians
  will do their best to refer you to practitioners in the area who perform disability or custody evaluations, or other related evaluations for which they do not believe they are qualified to provide. 
  
• FBTA clinicians do not perform court evaluations nor do they appear in court on behalf of clients.  FBTA clinicians do provide psychological evaluation and psychotherapy to assist in alleviating psychological and emotional problems.  FBTA clinicians are not typically trained for and do not maintain records with the intended purpose of court involvement.
  
• However, the legal process is such that  we may be compelled to reveal information about you that could affect you negatively or undermine the relationship you have with your therapist.  This can occur because the client-therapist relationship is built on trust with the foundation of that trust being confidentiality. Subsequently, it may be damaging to the client-therapist relationship if the therapist is asked to present client records to the court or testity as a fact or expert witness in any type of court proceeding.
  
•  In the event that an FBTA clinician is called to court or our client records are requested through subpeona or court order, FBTA will charge the full amount applicable under state law or the usual and customary for our services.  This includes:

           1. Copies of records will be made available for a $16.24 processing fee, plus $1.23 per page for copying. 
                   (MN Statute 144.292, Subdivision 6).
               2. If a FBTA clinician testifies in any court or legal proceeding, voluntarily or by subpeona or court 
                   order, regardless if the testimony is factual or expert, or to present any or all records pertaining to the 
                   therapy relationship to a court official, the client agrees to pay FBTA for these testimony related 
                   services (including but not limited to: travel, necessary expenditures such as copies, parking, meals,
                   and the like, time spent speaking with attorneys, reviewing records and preparation or reports) at the
                   rate of $200 per hour.
              3. The client further agrees to pay a retainer fee of $2000 two weeks prior to the appearance, presentaion
                  of records, or testimony requested.  A personal check will not be considered an acceptable form of 
                  payment for these services.

TELEPHONE CONSULTATIONS:  Time spent with you on the telephone by your mental health professional other than for appoinment information may be charged at a prorated hourly charge.

PREPARATION OF FORMS AND REPORTS:  These require chart review and often, discussion with the client.  There will be a minimum charge of $25 up to a maximum of $200 per hour.

MANAGING YOUR ACCOUNT BALANCE:  If mailing, please remit payment to Family Based Therapy Associates, 199 Coon Rapids Boulevard, Suite 306, Coon Rapids, MN 55433.

CHECK POLICY:  To ensure proper credit, please make checks payable to FBTA.  There will be a $40 fee for returned checks.  Thereafter, payment will only be accepted in the form of cash, credit card, or money order.