Section 4331 Of Chapter 3. Spousal Support Upon Dissolution Or Legal Separation From California Family Law Code >> Division 9. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 3.
4331
. (a) In a proceeding for dissolution of marriage or for legal
separation of the parties, the court may order a party to submit to
an examination by a vocational training counselor. The examination
shall include an assessment of the party's ability to obtain
employment based upon the party's age, health, education, marketable
skills, employment history, and the current availability of
employment opportunities. The focus of the examination shall be on an
assessment of the party's ability to obtain employment that would
allow the party to maintain herself or himself at the marital
standard of living.
(b) The order may be made only on motion, for good cause, and on
notice to the party to be examined and to all parties. The order
shall specify the time, place, manner, conditions, scope of the
examination, and the person or persons by whom it is to be made.
(c) A party who does not comply with an order under this section
is subject to the same consequences provided for failure to comply
with an examination ordered pursuant to Chapter 15 (commencing with
Section 2032.010) of Title 4 of Part 4 of the Code of Civil
Procedure.
(d) "Vocational training counselor" for the purpose of this
section means an individual with sufficient knowledge, skill,
experience, training, or education in interviewing, administering,
and interpreting tests for analysis of marketable skills, formulating
career goals, planning courses of training and study, and assessing
the job market, to qualify as an expert in vocational training under
Section 720 of the Evidence Code.
(e) A vocational training counselor shall have at least the
following qualifications:
(1) A master's degree in the behavioral sciences.
(2) Be qualified to administer and interpret inventories for
assessing career potential.
(3) Demonstrated ability in interviewing clients and assessing
marketable skills with understanding of age constraints, physical and
mental health, previous education and experience, and time and
geographic mobility constraints.
(4) Knowledge of current employment conditions, job market, and
wages in the indicated geographic area.
(5) Knowledge of education and training programs in the area with
costs and time plans for these programs.
(f) The court may order the supporting spouse to pay, in addition
to spousal support, the necessary expenses and costs of the
counseling, retraining, or education.