Child Custody Evaluations

When parents divorce and families break up, the standard for child custody is always the best interest of the child (or children). In order to determine the child’s best interests, a psychiatric evaluation is often used to assess the parents’ and/or the children’s mental statuses, any psychiatric illness or abnormality, the family dynamics, and any conditions or situations which would lead to a better understanding of what appropriate parenting time or custody arrangements would lead to the most psychologically beneficial living situation for the children. Additionally, any treatable psychiatric conditions can be assessed and appropriate treatment can be recommended to ensure the ongoing safety and a good future outcome for each child.