ClickCease
WE’VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR MORE THAN 35 YEARS. CALL US. 415.834.1120

When is a custody evaluation required in a child custody dispute?

Request a Consultation

Child custody disputes are among the most emotional and hard-fought battles that California parents have. These can occur during a divorce or months or years later if one parent seeks greater or sole custody of a child. They can also occur if parents who were never married end their relationship.

If parents cannot agree on a custody or visitation plan on their own or via mediation, they may have to rely on the courts to make the decision. Since the court will need objective, unbiased information, they will order a custody evaluation. Usually, the evaluators are psychologists who have no relationship with the family. The attorneys for both parents usually are the ones who choose the evaluator.

Custody evaluations generally take several months to complete, and they are not inexpensive. They can run as high as $15,000 in the San Francisco area. The judge in the case will read the evaluator’s report and generally will base his or her decision on that, although he or she is under no obligation to do so. That decision is final.

The evaluation is a comprehensive process. The evaluator interviews both parents and children individually as well as others in the children’s lives. This may include teachers, nannies and relatives. The evaluator’s job is not to determine who is the better parent, but what custody situation would be in the best interests of the children.

At Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C., we can help parents who feel that they have no choice but to go this route to gain the custody they are seeking. However, we strongly encourage them to seek out-of-court solutions, such as mediation. These are not only less expensive, but less stressful on everyone — particularly on the children involved.

With more than a quarter century of experience in family law, we can give you the options available to help you resolve your custody situation and advise you on the best one to achieve what you are seeking and what is healthiest for your children. Call us or contact us online to schedule a consultation to find out how we can help you.

Our Awards and Memberships

Schoenberg Family Law Group, P.C., recognizes that family law matters involve complex, sensitive issues that can have a lasting impact on you, your family, your finances and your future.

More About Honors & Awards
Arrow Image
10.0 Avvo Superb Top Attorney Family Law, Divorce
Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal
American Jurist Institute Top 10 Attorneys 2017
100 TOP WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES Women Who Lead
AMERICAN ACADEMY OF MATRIMONIAL LAWYERS (AAML)
2022 Client Satisfaction American Institute of Family Law Attorneys 10 Best
100 Fastest-Growing Private Companies In the Bay Area San Francisco Business Times
2021 LGBTQ-OWNED BUSINESSES Business Pride
10 Best Female Attorneys 2017 American Institute of Family Law Attorneys
San Francisco Bay Area's Best and Brightest Companies to Work For Winner 2021
2018 Best Lawyers Best Law Firms U.S. News & World Report
California Board of Legal Specialization (CBLS) State Bar of California
2020 Client Champion Debra R. Schoenberg
San Francisco Business Times Corporate Philanthropy Awards 2019
Expertise Best Divorce Lawyers in Concord 2020
2018 Expertise Best Divorce Lawyers in San Francisco
Fast 100
Lead Counsel Rated
Litigation Counsel of America (LCA) Fellow
National Board of Trial Advocacy
2017 Parents' Press Best of The Bay
San Francisco Business Times
Rated By Super Lawyers Debra R. Schoenberg
The Business of Pride
2021 Best Businesses Three Best Rated
San Francisco Business Times Corporate Philanthropy Awards & Summit
American Jurist Institute Top 10 Attorneys of 2018
Arrow Image