Child Custody Evaluations
If you are involved in a child custody dispute and have been unable to reach an agreement regarding child custody, the family court judge may order a child custody evaluation. Under the Arizona Rules of Family Law Procedure, either party may request that a child custody evaluator be assigned.
Arizona Child Custody Evaluation Attorney
At the Daly Law Firm, PLLC we assist clients in preparing for child custody evaluations. If a child custody evaluation has been ordered in your case or you believe an evaluation would be in your child’s best interest contact the Daly Law Firm at (480)-607-8308 for a free consultation to discuss your case.
Overview of Arizona Child Custody Evaluation Process
A child custody evaluator is assigned the task to determine what custody arrangement would be in the child’s best interest. The evaluation is performed by a mental health profession on the Court’s behalf. Generally, the evaluation consists of one on one interviews of each party and the child. The evaluator may interview third parties, if necessary. After an evaluation has been performed the mental health profession makes a written report to the Court. The written report usually contains a custody and parenting time recommendation.
A child custody evaluation in Arizona can be either comprehensive or limited in its scope. Comprehensive custody evaluations (CCEs) typically involve 20+ hours of professional services. CCEs investigate long-standing and broadly-based issues of family functioning and parenting capacity. Parents and children are interviewed more than once. Psychological testing is often administered. Parent/child relationships are examined in greater detail than in a Limited Family Assessment (LFA). More 3rd party witnesses are typically contacted in a comprehensive custody evaluation than in an limited family assement.
The report that the child custody evaluator provides to the court will likely be lengthier in a comprehesive custody evaluation than in a limited family assessment. The report will generally contain a narrative of the parties’ historical context, parentchild dynamics, assessment of parenting capacity, assessment of the child's developmental needs, and a full range of recommendations addressing custody, a detailed parenting time schedule, and recommended therapeutic interventions sometimes including treatment goals.
Child custody is sometimes difficult and confusing. The Daly Law Firm, PLLC has the knowledge and experience to help you successfully navigate the child custody evaluation process. If you are going through a child custody dispute in the Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona, don’t hesitate to call at (480) 607-8308 for a free consultation regarding your child custody questions and concerns.