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How to Make Sure Your Child Custody Evaluation Goes Well

If you and your former spouse or partner are in a conflict regarding who will assume custody of your kids, you may need to go through a child custody evaluation otherwise known as a forensic evalution. This process involves one or more meetings with a third-party evaluator, who must determine your fitness to support and care for your children.

The following are a few tips that can help you ensure this evaluation goes well for you:

  • Always be honest when answering any questions the evaluator asks about your history and your current relationship. Answer those questions directly rather than using them as a platform to go off on tangents.
  • Be upfront and self-aware. It helps to acknowledge your strengths and weaknesses as a parent. All parents have weaknesses, so admitting them to the evaluator will not necessarily hurt you.
  • Acknowledge that it would be beneficial to your children to have a positive relationship with both parents. This is a sign of maturity and that you will abide by the rules outlined in your eventual custody agreement.
  • Always focus on the wellbeing and needs of your children rather than your own.
  • Avoid saying anything negative about your kids’ other parent. If the evaluator asks any questions about that person’s strengths or weaknesses, answer them honestly and fairly — and try not to be too biased.
  • Be prompt with your appointment and with any follow-up communication you engage in with the evaluator. If you are asked to provide additional information or paperwork, provide it as quickly as possible.

To learn more about your rights when going through a child custody proceeding, meet with a knowledgeable family law attorney at Jakubowski, Robertson, Maffei, Goldsmith & Tartaglia, LLP.