Going through a custody battle can be an incredibly challenging time for any parent. You want what is best for your children but proving that you should have primary custody is difficult. In some cases, requesting a psychological evaluation of the parents and children can help provide the evidence needed to get the custody arrangement you believe is most suitable.
Why Might You Need to Request a Psychological Evaluation?
Recent statistics show that in 2018, nearly 80% of custodial parents were mothers. However, a decent percentage of fathers who wanted custody did not get it. With the right legal strategy, including a psychological assessment, fathers have a better chance of getting a favorable custody arrangement.
Additionally, studies show that verbal and emotional abuse can be as damaging to a child as physical abuse. If you suspect the other parent of this type of behavior, a psychological evaluation can help prove your case. Working closely with an experienced child custody attorney is key to successfully navigating the custody process and determining if a psychological assessment is a smart legal strategy.
The Benefits of Getting an Evaluation
There are several potential benefits of having a psychological custody evaluation done. These include:
- Determining which parent is better fit to be the primary caregiver
- Assessing if either parent has psychological issues that could impact their ability to care for the child – 1 in 14 children have a parent or guardian with poor mental health
- Understanding the relationship and attachment between each parent and child
- Identifying any behavioral, emotional, or developmental issues with the child that need to be addressed
- Getting an impartial third-party perspective from a psychologist on custody arrangements
The evaluation can be crucial evidence for arguing your case in court. The recommendations provided by the psychologist must legally be considered when determining custody agreements.
How to Request an Evaluation
To get a psychological custody assessment done, you and your attorney will file a motion with the court. The motion should explain why the evaluation is necessary, including specific concerns like suspected parental alienation, abuse, or a parent’s potential psychological problems.
The motion will typically request for either a specific psychologist or center to conduct the evaluation. The chosen psychologist should be an expert in custody assessments with substantial experience testing families and children in disputed custody cases. The evaluation will include meeting with both parents and children, doing interviews and testing, and observing parent-child interactions.
The cost of a custody evaluation can range from $3,000 to $40,000, depending on the depth of testing requested and how many sessions are required. In most cases, the parents split the costs 50/50, unless otherwise ordered by a judge. Some courts will cover the evaluation fees if the parents cannot afford it.
Custody battles for children can lead parents to use every strategy legally available to them to get the outcome they want. A psychological custody evaluation can in some cases provide that extra edge needed to prove your case. However, it’s important to have realistic expectations of what the assessment can achieve. Working closely with an experienced attorney when requesting the testing is highly recommended to get the best results.
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