Quest Intelligence Investigative Services has transferred business ownership (husband to wife), maintained the same location and staff and is now known as Quest Court Investigations. Our three-year agreement with Quest Intelligence Investigative Services in the amount of $47,500 has been cancelled effective December 31, 2016 and is to be replaced by this new agreement with Quest Court Investigations.
Formerly Quest Intelligence, Quest Court Investigations has provided required investigative reports for both stepparent and independent adoptions as filed under Part 4 of Division 12 (commencing with section 7800) of the California Family Code to the Shasta County Superior Court for several years. The California Family Code section 7851.5 provides the courts with the discretion to defer, waive or reduce costs when the payment would cause an economic hardship which would be detrimental to the welfare of the child.
In 2015 and 2016 we have experienced an increase in the number of independent adoptions. The process for independent adoption requires both parents’ rights be terminated. This increase in parental right terminations has led to an increase in the actual number of individuals investigated.
In addition to the increased number of independent adoptions, petitioners are choosing to complete the paperwork themselves rather than hiring legal counsel. This has resulted in additional time required by the investigator to guide petitioners in proper completion of required investigative documents. With an increase in fees charged for investigations, independent adoptions and petitioners without legal counsel the cost of these required investigations has increased from $17,361 annually to an anticipated annual amount of $36,667.