Are You Prepared For Your Child Custodial Evaluation?
Throughout the process of deciding child custody, you and the other parent could be ordered to undergo an evaluation. The evaluation is designed to assess the parenting skills and living environment of each parent. The assessment is usually conducted by a professional, such as a social worker, who is appointed by the court. If you have an evaluation upcoming, here are some tips to ensure you are prepared.
Keep It Professional
It is imperative that your interactions with the court-appointed evaluator are as professional as possible. He or she is charged with evaluating whether you are the better choice for custodial parent. If the evaluator believes that you are not taking the process seriously, he or she could misinterpret your actions.
The evaluation will likely take place in your home, but there is a possibility that he or she will schedule a meeting with you at his or her office. If so, remember to dress conservatively and be honest about your parenting skills and the environment in which you want to raise the child.
Do Not Go Overboard with Explanations
The evaluator is trained to take into account everything that is said during the course of the evaluation. Unfortunately, some parents make mistakes during the evaluations by providing too much information. The more you talk, the greater risk there is that you could say the wrong thing. Being honest about yourself and your parenting is important, but saying too much could be harmful.
The easiest way to avoid this is to answer the questions you are asked as simply as possible. If the evaluator needs more information, he or she will ask you to expound on what was said. If you want to volunteer information to the evaluator about yourself, talk to your attorney before the evaluation. He or she can help decide if you should share.
Interact With Your Children in a Normal Manner
During the evaluations, the evaluator will likely come to your home so that he or she can observe your interactions with your child. Although you might be worried about showing your normal interactions with your child to the evaluator, it is important that you do.
You want the evaluator to know that you are attentive to your child and that what he or she is witnessing is what can be expected if you are awarded custody. If the evaluator believers that your in-home parenting is an act for him or her, a negative assessment could be given to the court.
Talk to your child custody lawyer to find out other ways to prepare for your evalution.