What is a Minnesota custody evaluation?
When parents who share children break up or divorce, they usually need to share custody. In all but the most unusual cases, both parents have parental rights and responsibilities. Parents either establish their own custody arrangements or rely on the courts for support.
Some families have a relatively easy time addressing custody matters. The parents both have similar ideas about what is best for the children and can move forward with uncontested custody proceedings. They simply need the courts to review and approve the proposed parenting plan.
Some parents may find themselves disagreeing intensely about custody arrangements. Perhaps one parent wants the vast majority of overnight time and refuses to compromise. Maybe there are allegations of neglect or misconduct. In contested custody cases, the Minnesota family courts may order a custody evaluation. What does a custody evaluation involve?
Professionals review family circumstances
Parents who cannot agree on what is best for the children and who want a judge to rule on custody matters must submit to a custody evaluation if a judge deems it necessary. During that evaluation, they have to complete between one and three interviews with court-appointed professionals. Those one-on-one interviews help evaluate parenting skills and priorities.
Professionals also observe the children in each of the homes to better understand family dynamics. Sometimes, the evaluation sessions take place in a professional’s office. The children themselves must also attend interviews without either of the parents present.
The evaluation process may also include a criminal background check and interviews with professionals who have regular contact with the children, including childcare providers and teachers. A review of medical records and even school records may be part of the process as well. Parents may need to submit to testing ranging from drug tests to psychological evaluations.
The goal of the process is to obtain an accurate, holistic view of the family unit. A custody evaluation can help a judge determine what terms are in the best interest of the children.
Submitting to a formal custody evaluation can be a necessary component of a contested Minnesota custody case. Parents who understand how the state addresses parenting disputes can more easily prepare for interviews and other aspects of the evaluation process.