What You Need To Know About A Custody Evaluator

By Sherry Gross


It is important for one to understand in detail about custody evaluation in order to make the best decisions for your children. A custody evaluator, who in most cases is appointed by the court, always plays a central role in the evaluation process. These are highly qualified psychologists who are well versed with family matters.

The main role of these professionals is to evaluate the prevailing circumstances and make recommendations to the court. They therefore advise on visitation programs for the children and things that are related to their welfare. Their decisions are based solely on the existing situation and which will always differ from one family to the other. Basically, they leave nothing to chance when it comes to the welfare of the kids.

The process entails gathering of information about the specific family by the evaluator which definitely will be used as a settlement. It is normally done the moment you and your partner have totally failed to agree on pertinent matters. In fact, it is more than likely to be the last resort to issues affecting parents and children.

Always choose an experienced evaluator who is well versed with child custody laws. You will not only benefit from valuable advice, but also recommendations that will suit all parties. Do not compromise the quality of services you receive by only charges of the services. You need also to look at his qualifications as well as past records. If he offers great services, then do not hesitate to hire him.

The evaluation process is pretty simple and straight forward but requires total cooperation by both parents for it to be a success. Parents will have to visit the evaluator two or three times before the final decision is made. Additionally, the children will have to be interviewed in order to get their side of the story. This is one of things that make decisions very important before the law and judicial system set in place.

The evaluation process entails looking at copies of court documents to ascertain that everything dealt with is relevant to the case at hand. Furthermore, it is mandatory that the health of the children is catered for from the onset, and this is the reason why they may have to attend some therapies. This will enable young ones to be able to handle the difficulties that sometimes arise during the sessions. Also, this process is always documented for reference purposes and decision making.

Evaluation is not always confidential as other parties involved can access documents that relate to your case. The best thing you can do is to be prepared, talk to your children about the sessions, and avoid being nervous when facing the evaluator. This will enable you tell your story without fear and favor. Always talk to your attorney about the ongoing process and you may request him to be present when the sessions are underway.

In a nut shell, the process is meant to evaluate and recommend about the best psychological interests of the child. This is always done with a focus on parenting attributes which in this case must benefit the child. The non-discriminatory evaluation process is however only recommended when parents have failed to agree on matters affecting their children.




About the Author: