Dealing with Custody Evaluations in an Illinois Divorce

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Child Custody

When you are going through the divorce process, there are issues in which you and your soon-to-be ex-spouse may not be able to come to an agreement. Child custody is often one of the most contentious and fought over issues in a divorce. Because of this, some couples are forced to appear before a judge so that he or she can make determinations about parenting time and decision-making responsibilities. In some cases, a judge may need more information in order to make an informed decision in the best interest of the child. This is when the judge will request that a custody evaluation be conducted.

The Evaluation Process

Once the court has requested that an evaluation be completed, an evaluator is hired. The evaluator is often a licensed mental health professional, such as a psychologist. Depending on the circumstances, the evaluation can be focused on the parents, the child or both. The job of the evaluator is to gain an understanding of the relationships and interactions between the parents, the child and any other family members in the household. To do this, the evaluator may:

• Interview each parent.
• Interview the child.
• Interview any other household member.
• Perform in-home and/or in-office evaluations of the family interactions.
• Review medical and academic records.
• Visit each parent’s home.
• Conduct psychological tests.
• Interview other individuals such as teachers, neighbors, extended family members, and child care professionals.

The Report

Once the evaluator has completed his or her evaluation, he or she must then compile the findings into a report to present to the court. The evaluator’s report will contain information on how he or she conducted the investigation, all test results gained, the evaluator’s professional recommendation on how parenting time should be allocated and any reservations or concerns the evaluator may have. The judge will then use the report to make his or her final decision on parenting time and decision-making responsibilities.

A Kane County Child Custody Attorney Can Help with Evaluation Concerns

If your custody case involves any type of custody or psychological evaluation, it can help to have a Batavia child custody lawyer on your side. At the Law Office of Matthew M. Williams, P.C., we have over 15 years of experience helping families resolve their custody issues. Call our office today at 630-409-8184 to set up a consultation.

Source:

http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs5.asp?ActID=2086&ChapterID=59