Matters about child custody and time-sharing are among the most agitating cases significantly in a Florida divorce. The state has driven measures to balance custody and timesharing of children in a divorce while also getting rid of the dishonor linked with being defined as a non-custodial or merely being a semi-supporting parent.

Disagreements between both parties are common in the process of permanently parting ways. Generally, when parents cannot settle on topics about child custody and timesharing, the court must intervene and resolve these cases themselves. The court resolution would result in giving the adequate interest to the child or children.

🔵 What is a Custody Evaluation?
A custody evaluation is a declaration done by a custody evaluator. It outlines the evaluator’s conclusions and suggests why one parent should obtain custody over the other. Custody evaluators are qualified mental health experts and must strictly have the background in child therapy and psychology.

The custody evaluation procedure can take weeks to conduct. And, the assigned evaluator will have to accumulate data and meet you and your children individually to assure that the child isn’t being persuaded by a parent to communicate certain things.


🔵 What is the Cost of a Custody Evaluation and Who Pays for It?
The typical cost for a custody evaluation ranges around $4,500 to $15,000. The higher court will determine which parent pays the overall expenditure of the custody evaluation or demand that both parents shall share in the expense of the evaluation. The price is favorably conditional on the preferences of the evaluator and what their qualifications are.

🔵 How Can I Prepare for a Custody Evaluation?
Undergoing a custody evaluation can make most parents anxious about the idea of meeting with a psychologist. Condition yourself and make sure to get enough sleep the night before.

Organize essential documents you need to bring and show the evaluator your are knowledgeable about your child’s interests, needs, and desires, and how your views on custody would meet these interests, needs, and desires. Most of all, be polite and compliant to the evaluators.

🔵How Can I Prepare My Child for a Custody Evaluation?
Expect that your child will be questioned as part of the custody evaluation. You can ready your child for their interview by describing to them what will occur. Give them a heads up that they will be encountering someone who wants to learn about their sentiments.

Also, boost your child or children to be genuine and unpretentious with the evaluator. Do not provoke them to supply detailed answers. Instead, tell them that they should feel unrestricted to say what they consider and that they will not be at risk for their responses.

🔵 What Will the Custody Evaluation Contain?
Normally, each evaluation is as distinctive as the parents concerned, custody evaluations generally include the following data:

✅ Overview report of each parent’s backgrounds
✅ Recaps of statements from witnesses
✅ Outline of any psychological tests conducted
✅ Summary of the information the evaluator gathered
✅ Evaluator’s recommendations concerning a parenting plan
✅ Evaluator’s proposals for bringing out the parenting plan
✅ Tips for therapy or parenting classes
✅ Guidelines that address any special concerns
✅ Schedules or suggestions for reevaluations

🔵 What If I Do Not Agree with the Custody Evaluation?
Judges will count on reports like custody evaluations because they are considered as unbiased and proficient evaluations of the parties and circumstances before the court.

Courts are unrestrained to disregard a custody evaluation. However, they generally greatly respect or depend on the evaluator and his report.

Contact Florida’s Expert Family Law Attorney

If you’ve been ordered by the court to participate in the custody evaluation, it is a lot beneficial to comprehend the intention and procedure of these evaluations.

Contact Attorney Mellany Marquez-Kelly, an experienced Family Law Attorney, to handle your Custody Evaluation efficiently. She can help you and your child or children be equipped for the evaluation.

Attorney Mellany Marquez-Kelly has been in the field of Florida divorce laws and acquired favorable results when it comes to Family Law. Apart from that, Mellany Marquez-Kelly is a well-practiced divorce law attorney in Fort Myers, Fl. and its surrounding areas in Southwest Florida.

To learn more about child custody and temporary custody in Florida, message us online, or call us at 239-214-0403 today!