Child Custody Evaluations

After countless hours of training by the most respected and, in my opinion, a clinician embodying the decades of experience, professional integrity, ethical interventions and innate intuition: Dr. Michael Kerner. Becoming a custody evaluator is by no means an easy process. It is grueling, as it should be! When court ordered, a custody evaluator is tasked with making a recommendation forever impacting the lives of minor(s), their family and friends. There is little room for speculation. A clinician should adopt the most objective position, give each parent the exact same opportunities, and in-person/telehealth time with the evaluator. There is no room for bias.The only considerations an evaluator should have on their mind – at all times – is the best interests of the child, followed by the directives set forth by the court. This statement should be reversed, since court orders usurp all, but for this clinician, for me, the best interests of the child will always come first. 

Something I have come to realize is court order evaluators have a disproportionate amount of ‘power’ by nature of their role alone. We have a court mandate to carry out our duties, and – in my opinion – this is sometimes abused. Each and every family court ordered to undergo an evaluation has the right to respect, transparency regarding the evaluation process, but most importantly, the right to expect their expert will deliver their findings in a timely manner. This is very important, families deserve to have the most monumental course of events in their child’s developmental life according to a strict timetable. There is zero room for procrastination. If a member of the family delays my ability to establish necessary appointments, follow through on my duties – essentially do my job – I will alert the court. I have little tolerance for individuals who do not consider appointments related to the custody of a minor to usurp business appointments, swim practice or brief school absences. A death in the family, a wedding… I review on a case by case basis. 

I have a role. I work for the court. I am ordered by the court to deliver my clinical opinion on custody. I do not work for the parents, one parent, the other. If the court deems one parent pays for the entire evaluation, 30%, 70%, it means nothing to me, because these are not within the scope of my practice. As I keep repeating, my focus is the best interests of the child. Make no mistake, the work is not easy. It is methodically challenging – and it should be. Families deserve this level of commitment and professionalism. Previously, I mentioned court ordered providers may, at times, feel overconfident when they have the power granted by a court order. In any setting, if I felt better, innately more powerful, it would impact my objectivity. Any family I work with should know I make no judgments. People make mistakes, people say and do things they wish they never have. I make significant efforts to consider all information contextually. Put simply, the report, the recommendations, I provide the court, are for the best interests of the child – per the date stamped on the report. After that date, it is not uncommon for people, events, and circumstances to change. My recommendations, when permitted, include future considerations in which families are not separated, not estranged. 

Below I have included some fundamental information of custody evaluations. I encourage you to review them so you have a better understanding of the process and details. Regardless, if appointed, I will go over each and every point with you until you feel comfortable to proceed.