Child Custody Law
Custody Evaluation
An assessment, sometimes involving a court counsellor or mental health professional, examining a child's circumstances and each parent's suitability, to help the court decide custody.
Courts sometimes direct a custody evaluation in contested cases, seeking an independent, professional view on the child's needs, wishes (where age-appropriate), and each parent's capacity to provide a stable, supportive environment.
The findings from such an evaluation inform, but don't automatically bind, the court's final custody decision, which remains guided by the overall best-interest-of-the-child standard.
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