The Roles Of A Custody Evaluator

By Sherry Gross


Custody evaluations are common in cases involving divorcing parents. It in normally done by a custody evaluator, and who in this case is a highly trained individual in psychology matters. He/she is normally appointed by the courts of law to evaluate the psychological health of children who happen to be involved in legal tussles between their parents. They play a central role in ensuring that the parents reach an agreement in matters that concern their children.

The aim of the evaluator is to assess the family needs and send his/her recommendations to the judiciary. Thereafter, the government makes the final decision on matters that are pertinent to the well being of the children. These will include visitations as well as relevant issues that fall in the same range. The decisions made from the evaluation will therefore vary based on the very issues that are affecting the family.

Information is gathered using different methods before the evaluator can write down his or her recommendations to the judicial officers. In most cases, it is usually the last resort after spouses have failed to reach into agreements in previous settlements. However, if parents have agreed on their own on how to take care of children, no evaluation will be needed.

It is important to choose an evaluator based on the experience and past records. This is only if you want to solve outstanding issues amicably. Therefore, do not contract evaluators solely based on low charges as decisions might not be justifiable according to your situation. It is also highly recommended that you pick one based on education and past record in order to get the best solution that is not biased in any way.

In order for the process to run smoothly always cooperate with all the parties involved in the process. It is during this time that parents are required to visit the office of the evaluator a number of times, way before the final decision is made. Additionally, the children will have to be interviewed with the professional to enable him asses the whole situation professionally. By including all parties, the final decision then made based on facts and not baseless opinions.

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.

Evaluation is the best method used by the courts of law to reach out to issues affecting children involved in a tangle between their parents. The well being of the children therefore comes as a first priority, and the focus is on parenting attributes that are aimed at ensuring that psychological needs of children are taken care of. The main person who asks for it is the judge involved in the case.




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