A child custody evaluation is a comprehensive evaluation to assess the best interests of the child or children involved in a divorce or custody dispute. A child custody evaluation is carried out by a neutral third party, such as a social worker, clinic psychologist, and family therapist. The evaluation could include:
Interviews with the parents, children, and other important adults, such as grandparents
Psychological testing of the parent
Observing each parent’s interactions with the children
Interviews with relevant parties such as relatives, neighbors, and teachers
Examining appropriate records
The evaluator(s) will use the information collected from these observations to create a report for the judge presiding over the case. The report details their findings and recommendations regarding custody.