The Roles Of A Custody Evaluator

By Sherry Gross


It is important that you understand what really entails custody evaluation in order to make the right decision. To begin with, a custody evaluator is a professional appointed by the court to resolve matters that touch on parenting. In most cases, evaluators are qualified psychologists who are well placed to solve family related issues about custody and well being of 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.

Always choose an experienced evaluator who is well versed with child custody laws. You will not only benefit from valuable advice, but also recommendations that will suit all parties. Do not compromise the quality of services you receive by only charges of the services. You need also to look at his qualifications as well as past records. If he offers great services, then do not hesitate to hire him.

The evaluation process is pretty simple and straight forward but requires total cooperation by both parents for it to be a success. Parents will have to visit the evaluator two or three times before the final decision is made. Additionally, the children will have to be interviewed in order to get their side of the story. This is one of things that make decisions very important before the law and judicial system set in place.

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.

Always remember that this process is not confidential at all and matters discussed will be accessed by different parties involved. You should therefore be well prepared, open to evaluator, and avoid nervousness when meeting the individual. It is even better if you are in contact with your attorney all through so that everything runs smoothly. Also, talk to your children and make them understand why the process is important.

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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