The Art and Science of Child Custody Evaluations

1. Introduction

2. The Best Interests of the Child Standard

II. The Art of Child Custody Evaluations

3. Ethics and Methods

4. Minimizing and Correcting for Bias

5. Increasing the Reliability and Relevance of Child Custody Evaluations

6. Interviewing Children

7. Children's Voices

III. The Science of Child Custody Evaluations: Factors to Assess in Child Custody Evaluations

8. Assessment of Child Developmental Factors

9. Assessment of Parent Factors

10. Assessment of Family Factors

IV. The Art and Science of Child Custody Evaluations: Assessing Allegations of Maltreatment

11. Assessing Allegations of Child Sexual Abuse

12. Assessing Allegations of Domestic Violence

13. Assessing Allegations of Child Alienation

14. Another Call for Humility

Appendix: Sample Statements of Understanding and Letters