The best interests determination in a child custody dispute is all-encompassing. The court is allowed to analyze nearly every aspect of your and your child’s life, as well as that of your child’s other parent. Therefore, if you’re facing a child custody dispute, then you’ll want to present yourself in as favorable of a light as possible. That being said, appearances aren’t everything.
The importance of mental health evaluations
Depending on the facts of your case, the court may require that the parties, including the child, undergo some sort of mental health assessment, which is sometimes incorporated into a child custody evaluation. This assessment can also be requested by the parties. The goal of this assessment is to determine the mental and emotional wellbeing of each parent and how those line up with the child’s needs. A therapist who speaks with the child can better determine what sort of child custody arrangement will best support the child’s best interests.
Preparing for a speaking with a therapist or other mental health professional
You don’t want to blindly walk into a meeting with a mental health professional, especially when time with your kid is on the line. Therefore, take some time beforehand to really think through your shortcomings and what you’ve done to try to address them. Make sure that you’re able to articulate your bond with our child and how you support him or her. Most importantly, be prepared to be honest.
Developing your child custody case
With your relationship with your child at stake, you owe it to yourself to have the most thought-out child custody arguments available. This means knowing the law and how it applies to your set of circumstances, and competently navigating the process. We know that these matters can be enormously stressful, but you don’t have to face them alone. That’s why strong family law firms like ours stand read to assist as needed.
