What is a child custody evaluation?

A child custody evaluation is a process used by the court to determine which parent should have the primary physical and legal custody of a child in a divorce proceeding. In Washington, the court may order a custody evaluation when parents are unable to reach an agreement between themselves. During a custody evaluation, the evaluator, usually a psychologist or social worker, reviews relevant information from both parents and interviews the children, if appropriate. The evaluator may also consider factors such as the parents’ relationship with their child and the child’s needs and desires. The evaluator then makes a recommendation based on his/her findings to the court. The court takes the recommendation into consideration when determining who should have the primary physical and legal custody of the child. Ultimately, the court makes the final decision on the child’s custody. The court may follow the evaluator’s recommendation, or it may decide differently if it believes the recommendation is not in the child’s best interest.

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What is a child custody evaluation?

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