Custody evaluations are often performed when there is a question as to parental fitness in one or both parents of a child, and often during a divorce or other relationship separation.
You may request one or have one requested of you.
Both parents will be assessed, and this assessment often involves a series of interviews with each parent, interviews with the child or children (if old enough), psychological testing, home visits to assess parent/child interaction, and interviews with professionals in the child's life, such as pediatricians, teachers, etc.
Friends and family may also be interviewed to offer collateral reports.
The process of a parenting time study or custody evaluation is intense and can be very time consuming, sometimes taking several months.
However, it is a very solid way of ensuring that you have done all you can to protect your children against a threat posed by an unfit ex partner.
Here are 4 steps for presenting your case for custody of your children in the best possible light: 1.
Give facts as much as possible.
Clearly this is a very emotional issue and you may also harbor a lot of anger at your partner if you are divorcing or separating.
However, you will come across best if you maintain a rational stance and give times, dates, and events as concisely as possible.
2.
Avoid too much emotionalism.
Yes, you are very upset about your partner and his or her potential threat to your children.
However, if you go into each interview crying and terribly upset, the evaluator may begin to question your stability.
It is reasonable to show some emotion, just make sure it is not excessive.
3.
Present your concerns in the context of how your partner's behavior has, or may impact the children.
The evaluator is not as interested in how lousy a spouse your partner was to you (though he or she will want to know if you feel you have been abused), as in the impact of your partner's behavior on the kids.
For example, if your partner has had multiple affairs, present your concern that this behavior created an environment of chaos and instability for your kids, and threatened to expose them to sexual behavior with people other than their other parent.
If your partner uses drugs, express that you are concerned that your children may be exposed to them.
Be sure to be honest about your own shortcomings, as your partner will fill the evaluator in of you don't.
Again, present your failings in terms of recognizing what you did could have created negative impact on your children, and that you are committed to them and to protecting them now and in the future.
4.
Provide updates to the evaluator as they occur.
As a custody evaluation can take months to complete, there is plenty of opportunity for the occurrence of new events or actions on the part of your partner to support your case.
Stick with dates, times, and facts, and present them to the evaluator as they happen, so details are fresh in your mind.