Douglas County court services outlines domestic investigation reports, staffing and possible program expansion

Court services officers told the Douglas County Board of Commissioners on March 25 that the county's domestic investigation reports program provides judges neutral, court-ordered summaries of family circumstances in parenting-time and child custody cases.

Jordan, a court services officer, said the reports are initiated only by court order and are intended to "present each party's viewpoint to the court" rather than to advocate or make recommendations, which is the role of a guardian ad litem. Jordan said the office completed child-specific interviewing training in September 2025 to improve how officers interview children when judges permit those interviews.

The program began after the court identified a gap in access to justice for indigent parents who cannot afford a guardian ad litem, Jordan said. She said she began writing domestic reports in January 2025; the office has completed 29 reports (including…