Conducting child custody evaluations

Based on Philip Stahl's extensive experience "in the trenches," Conducting Child Custody Evaluations presents a detailed examination of the many complex questions and issues involved in this process. Practical guidelines for completing evaluations are provided, including helpful information on interviewing parents and children, testifying in court, writing custody evaluations, working with attorneys, getting paid, and working in an ethical manner. Such fundamental concerns relating to divorce as the ability to parent, bonding and attachment of children and parents, the formulation of custody/access plans, and specific developmental issues are also addressed. Included in this volume are sample forms, cover letters, and court orders; sample lists of questions to ask parents and children; sample reports; psychological tests for adults; and games and tests for children. It also includes ethical standards and guidelines for child custody evaluations from various national, state, and local organizations. Sensible, lucid, and insightful, this book is an important contribution to our understanding of how child custody evaluations are conducted and an excellent resource for psychologists, evaluators, social workers, family court and private mediators, judges, attorneys, and graduate students.