One of the most painful aspects of a divorce is child custody and visitation. This process may manifest a variety of issues, especially when the divorce and parenting schedule is finalized. Naturally, one can expect both parents not to agree with the schedule, deeming it very important to come to a middle ground through amicable discussions. This is key to creating an acceptable parenting plan that is also in the best interests of the child. However, often, this is not the case.
Understanding Parental Evaluations
A typical custody evaluation for a divorce matter will generally include full-scale parental evaluations. This type of analysis and fact-finding can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a couple of months. The evaluation essentially comprises very thorough and frequent interviews with the parents and the child. In addition, psychological evaluations and tests will also be conducted and the social services agent will also talk to the child’s teachers, doctors, neighbors, friends, relatives, etc. They will also evaluate the medical records and school reports of the child.
Some Reasons Why Parental Evaluations are Ordered by the CourtÂ
The court needs to identify the parents’ ability to provide a safe environment for the child, which is also a key factor in assigning primary custody to one parent or the other. To do that the court needs to determine the following:
- Instance of domestic violence
- Drug and/or alcohol abuse
- Mental illness
- A child needs special care
- A parent who must move to another city or state
- Questionable parenting