Florida Child Custody Evaluations
Being ordered by a court to participate in a child custody evaluation can be a harrowing experience, mostly because you will be worried about how an evaluator will react to you. The stakes are extraordinary; understanding the process and doing what you can to prepare will help to ease your mind and help you to make the best impression possible.
Why has an Evaluation been Ordered?
The court may have ordered the evaluation for any number of reasons. Perhaps there is a bitter custody battle occurring, or you have been accused of abandonment or poor parenting in the past. Maybe you would like to increase your visitation time. Whatever the reason, the court is obliged to look out for the child’s best interests. Going forward, a mental health professional will visit your home, conduct interviews, review documents, and administer psychological tests in order to make a sound recommendation to the court relating to custody.
The Process
These evaluations differ depending on the circumstances of the case. In general, you can expect an unbiased and ethical look at whether you can provide a stable home for your child. It will likely include:
- Separate interviews of you and your child will be needed in order for the evaluator to get a sense of the shared relationship and your parenting philosophy.
- Observations of the parent/child relationship in various settings will be used to get a feel for your interactive style.
- The evaluator will examine court documents, medical records, and school records.
- Both you and your child may be subject to psychological testing, depending on the circumstances.
- The evaluator may contact teachers, neighbors, relatives, and others familiar with you and your child.
What are the Evaluator’s Goals?
The outcome of the evaluation will have lasting impacts on your child. The evaluator is interested in your ability to provide a safe and secure home for your child. They are not concerned with your finances or decorating style. They will be attentive to behaviors, family dynamics, and the exchanges between you and your child. If there are issues that could have a negative impact on the child– having unrelated, unsavory people in the home, having serious sanitation issues in the home, or having a schedule that would require the child to be unsupervised, for example– could raise some red flags.
Preparing for the Evaluation
Unquestionably, this is a major event, and you should treat it as such. Make it a priority to organize documents of interest, for starters. Even more crucially, give serious thought to your objectives and parenting views. Be clear about what your parenting priorities are, how you think everyday situations should be handled, and steps you will take to accomplish your parenting goals. You don’t have to know everything; you just have to be open and honest as you discuss your child’s needs and how you plan to meet them.
Fighting for You
The experienced Boca Raton family law attorneys at WiseLieberman understand the anxiety you are feeling, and will support you every step of the way. To discuss, schedule a confidential consultation in our Boca Raton office today.
Source:
gabatelepsychiatry.com/child-custody-evaluation/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22971852224&gbraid=0AAAAAC27-SsWMfVpbPL4jLPv3Z0ytctt0&gclid=CjwKCAiAt8bIBhBpEiwAzH1w6V0FCxSOfQZcQ8nveC-kRjqv1Mfona_H2u0QG84kYis1uidd0upixBoCtccQAvD_BwE
