Child Custody Evaluations

If you have been ordered to participate in a child custody evaluation, you are no doubt worried about how an evaluator will react to you. The stakes are high; understanding the process and doing your best to prepare will ease your mind and help you to make the best impression possible.

Why has an Evaluation been Ordered? 

The court may have ordered the evaluation for any number of reasons. Perhaps there is a bitter custody battle occurring, or you have been accused of abandonment or poor parenting in the past. Maybe you would like to increase your visitation time. Whatever the reason, the court is obliged to look out for the child’s best interests. Going forward, a mental health professional will conduct interviews, review documents, visit your home, and administer psychological tests in order to make a sound recommendation to the court relating to custody.

The Process 

An evaluation will differ depending on the circumstances of the case. In general, you can expect:

• Children and their parents will be interviewed separately in order for the evaluator to get a sense of the relationship and the parenting philosophies of the parent.
• The evaluator will likely be interested in observing the parent/child relationship in various settings.
• Court documents, medical records, and school records will be examined.
• Both the parent and the child may be subject to psychological testing, depending on the circumstances.
• Teachers, neighbors, relatives, and others familiar with you and your child may be contacted.

What are They Looking for?

The evaluator is not concerned with your finances or decorating prowess; instead, they are simply interested in your ability to provide a safe and stable home for the child. They will be concerned with behaviors, family dynamics, and the relationship of you and your child. If there are issues that could have a negative impact on the child, it could raise some red flags. That could include having other people in the home who may be unsavory, having a home with serious sanitation issues, or having a schedule that would require the child to be unsupervised.

How Should You Prepare for the Evaluation? 

Certainly, this is a big deal, and you should treat it as such. That means organizing documents of interest to share, for starters. More importantly, it means giving serious thought to your goals and parenting ideas. Be clear about how you believe everyday situations should be handled, what your parenting priorities are, and steps you will take to accomplish parenting goals. You don’t have to know everything; you just have to be open and sincere as you discuss your child’s needs and how you plan to meet them.

Fighting for You

The experienced Springfield family law attorneys at Courtney & Mills understand the anxiety you are feeling, and will support you every step of the way. To discuss, schedule a confidential consultation in our Springfield office today.

Source:

gabatelepsychiatry.com/child-custody-evaluation/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22971852224&gbraid=0AAAAAC27-SsWMfVpbPL4jLPv3Z0ytctt0&gclid=CjwKCAiAt8bIBhBpEiwAzH1w6V0FCxSOfQZcQ8nveC-kRjqv1Mfona_H2u0QG84kYis1uidd0upixBoCtccQAvD_BwE