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Scrutinizing Custody Evaluations in High Conflict Cases

coparenting high conflict divorce

In cases where divorced or divorcing parents do not agree on a parenting plan , child custody experts are often asked to provide an evaluation to the court. The expert examines both parents and the child or children as well as collateral sources for information about the family and family interactions. The evaluator gathers data and then draws inferences from their data which they then provide to the court.

The custody evaluator attempts to gain a detailed picture of the family and form opinions regarding the best interests of the children. The expert makes recommendations to the court based upon their opinions. That is why it is so important for the evaluator to get a true picture of the particular family and its members and other factors as well as an understanding of what issues can not be addressed in a report. Every family is unique. Some families are complicated while others are more open. In either case, the evaluators report

If you are involved in a custody case in which an evaluator is making recommendations about your family to the court, the following are important factors that go to how credible the expert's opinion is and whether the court will be made aware of the report's limitations.

1. Is the expert's opinion based upon full knowledge of all particular issues that arise in the family?

2. Does the expert investigate specific issues the particular family presents or do they use a cookie-cutter approach that may lead to the oversight of important hidden issues present in the particular family?

3. Did the expert engage in thorough fact finding? Is there opinion based upon a sufficient number of interviews and test results? Did the expert crosscheck information with collateral sources?

4. Does the expert acknowledge that their evaluation is limited in time and limited to the specific methods they have used and can not possibly consider everything about family members and their interactions?

5. Does the expert acknowledge that they can not draw an impression or opinion about issues for which there is insufficient data, thereby acknowledging the limitations of their recommendations?

Are you involved in trying to coparent with a high conflict individual? Schedule a call with me today to learn how to manage the situation in a way that protects your peace and your parenting time.

Dr. Jodi Peary

Intuitive Psychologist, Hypnotherapist, Former Lawyer.

Dr. Jodi Peary guides individuals through significant transitions such as divorce, divorce recovery, after losses due to the death of loved ones, changes in one's own health, and with coming to terms with new life stages. Combining proven research-based psychological strategies alongside more intuitive teachings and hypnotherapy, I facilitate your deeper connection with yourself, arming you with the self-awareness needed to improve your health and to help you discover a more meaningful relationship with yourself and others. My workshops and coaching sessions will lead you to consciously align your mind, heart, emotions, soul, and your body. In alignment you will experience mental, physical and emotional well being.

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Scrutinizing Custody Evaluations in High Conflict Cases

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