Summary
Florida
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Extract
Anatomy of a child custody evaluation.
Florida Family Law Rules of Procedure 12.360 and 12.363 provide for evaluation of parents and children by a psychologist. A psychological evaluation is only useful if it is done properly and if those who rely upon it actually understand it. One problem encountered by family law attorneys and judges is that when they receive a psychological report, they do not always understand it. Some reports are filled with more jargon and theory than practical and relevant information. Further confusion can occur because there is no standardized format for conducting custody evaluations. Different psychologists use different procedures, different psychological tests, and different writing styles.
However, the lack of a standardized format for conducting custody evaluations does not mean that psychologists can simply do whatever they want in the evaluation. Although there is no one right way to conduct a custody evaluation, there are wrong ways. The key is to understand enough about the various standards and procedures that govern custody evaluations in order to identify the right from the wrong and mount an effective cross examination if necessary. The goal of this article is to provide such an understanding. Issues Related to Evaluator * General Considerations The Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists require that psychologists who conduct forensic evaluations (of which custody evaluations are included) have specialized knowledge, skill, expe...See the full content of this document
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