When parents cannot agree on a custody and time-sharing arrangement, a Child Custody Evaluation can provide parents and the court with information to help determine a parenting plan that is in the child's best interest. This is accomplished by assessing each parent's capacity to parent; the emotional, developmental, and physical needs of the child; and the ability of each parent to meet those needs.
What to Expect
Dr. Zenger will gather several sources of data on which she will base her assessment:
- Joint and individual interviews with each parent, child, and significant other
- Observations of the child(ren) with each parent
- Psychological testing and parenting questionnaires
- Review of court documents and other appropriate records
- Interviews with collateral sources (e.g., therapists, teachers, day-care personnel, pediatricians)
Once the evaluation begins, the gathering of data can take anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks, depending on the availability of information and contacts, or any scheduling conflicts. After all the data has been acquired, parents, counsel and the court are notified and a settlement conference is scheduled.
During the settlement conference, Dr. Zenger will share her perceptions of the child(ren)'s needs and discuss each parent's ability to provide for those needs.
How You Can Prepare
- Discuss the evaluation process with your attorney
- Stay focused on the needs of your child(ren)
- Be open and honest during the evaluation
- Avoid defensiveness and criticism
- Be open to various custody / time-sharing plans
What to Tell Your Child
To ease your child's anxiety about the process, you might share something like the following:
"Dr. Zenger is trying to learn about our family so she can help your dad/mom and I agree on parenting. She wants to get to know you and understand your feelings. She won't ask you to choose between me and your mom/dad."
Adjust this content to your child's age, and encourage your child to be honest about how he/she feels.
One Final Thought
Rather than experiencing anxiety by approaching the child custody evaluation with a win-lose attitude, try to think of the evaluation as an opportunity for you and your ex-spouse to learn about how the two of you can work together in the best interest of your child(ren).