Tuesday, July 1, 2014

The Roles Of 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 objective is always to evaluate the family and recommend to judicial officers on who will make the final decisions on behalf the children. This also includes visitations and other important matters that have a direct impact on the children. You should understand that the decisions made are not unilateral, and will always differ from one family to the other.

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.

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.

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.

Vital court documents will have to be presented during the evaluation process and they may be reviewed if need be. In other cases, the parties involved (parents and children) may have to go through therapies in order to get treatment. The process must however be documented and presented to the courts for records and reference at the end of the day.

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.




About the Author: