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 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.

It is required by the law that one attends most, if not all, of these sessions. The information gathered is of importance to making the final decision before being sent back to the judiciary. All decisions made are likely to be the last resort for the young ones.

There are fundamental factors that you will need to look into when choosing an evaluator, but top of the list must be experience and past records. It may be good to look at the charges but this should not make you compromise on the quality of services you receive. The best evaluators in the market are those with higher qualifications from recognized institutions. Additionally, they are members of professional bodies that are recognized by the government.

It is important for you to attend all the sessions in order to make the whole process a success. In most cases, parents need to present themselves in more than two sessions as required by the evaluator. The children too will be interviewed so that their side of the story is heard. This is essential in balancing the decisions.

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.

This process is always aimed to give children support and prevent situations where they are psychologically tortured. Basically, its main objective is to see that the needs of the children are met. It is one of the best ways of solving issues that spouses have failed to agree on especially those touching on the welfare of the children.




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