For minor children, the parent or legal guardian should fill out the paperwork. The general rule is that either parent may consent to the child’s treatment in intact families. Typically, a therapist or counselor may want to get the consent of the other parent or may want to inform the other parent of the treatment, but at other times, such action may not be possible or warranted.
If the minor child’s parents are divorced (marital dissolution) or unwed, the parent(s) who has “legal custody,” is the one who must authorize or consent to treatment of the minor. The legal custodian is generally viewed as the one who has the right and the responsibility to make the decisions related to the health, education and welfare of the child. In some cases, both parents have legal custodianship, in some cases only one parent does. If you are a divorced parent of a minor, you will have to bring your custody agreement authorized and signed by a judge to the first therapy session to demonstrate custodianship. Stated otherwise, the general rule is that either parent with legal custody may authorize or consent to treatment of their minor child unless the court order specifies otherwise. Note, that we have to follow such protocols in the best interest of your child. It can be very disruptive to therapy and to the therapist to be in the middle of a fight between two parents over whether or not treatment was appropriately authorized.
You may appoint a person, other than the parent or legal guardian, to be the financially responsible party and connect their payment information to the child’s account. Example: A grandparent wishes to pay for therapy for a grandchild. In this case, enter the financially responsible party’s credit card information in your paperwork and obtain a consent form from the financially responsible party to upload in your patient portal.