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What kinds of things can I do to prepare for a Parenting or Custody evaluation?
There are a number of things you can do to make a better impression on the evaluator, but there is no amount of preparation that will turn you into a competent parent overnight. Use the pages below to make sure you're aware of what you can do to show the evaluator your strong points.
- What To Ask For In A Parenting Evaluation
- Child Custody Evaluation FAQ's
- Working With Evaluators And Psychologists
- Notes On Home Studies
- What Does The Psychiatrist Want To See?
- Competency With Basic Parenting Skills And Tasks
This report is a good example of what a proper and thorough evaluation entails:
What kinds of things should I show to a custody evaluator?
This is covered more thoroughly in the Parenting Evaluation Guide, but you want to make the evaluator aware of:
- your strengths and skills as a parent
- your willingness to put the child first
- your willingness to support the relationship between the child and the other parent
- concerns about deficits or weaknesses in the other parent's skills or ability to parent
I feel like the evaluator is biased, and the evaluation is going against me. What can I do?
If you genuinely believe the evaluator is biased against you, is incompetent, isn't following correct procedure, or is simply not doing a proper evaluation for whatever reason, you should IMMEDIATELY inform your attorney and file an objection.
DO NOT WAIT for the report to come back to see what is says; by then it will be too late to raise an objection, and consequently very difficult to overturn. It is vital to note and object to any practice or incident during the evaluation rather than after it.
Before lodging a complaint, however, make certain it isn't frivolous. It's best to tailor the level of your response in proportion to the irregularity. Groundless or unfounded complaints against the evaluator will not help your case.
If you believe your evaluation was done improperly, this article may be of some help:
How can I cheat on a Parenting or Custody evaluation?
You can't, and even if you could, we wouldn't provide that kind of information.
Instead of looking for ways to 'cheat', a more productive use of time might be to concentrate on trying to be a better parent, and by keeping your child's needs first and foremost in your mind.
How much does a Parenting or Custody evaluation cost, and who pays for it?
A typical Parenting evaluation will cost between $2000 and $5000 dollars. The cost can be considerably
more if there are multiple issues that are contested, or if there are allegations of sex abuse, child abuse, or domestic abuse.
Costs for the evaluation are often split between the parties involved, sometimes on an equal basis, sometimes split according to the relative income levels of the parties. Be aware that evaluation fees must often be paid up front, in advance of the evaluation.