Special Considerations in Conducting Psychological Custody Evaluations with Military Families

Abstract

Child custody evaluations are highly complex forensic evaluations that study children's needs, parental capacities, and the resulting fit. Child custody evaluations are typically asked to provide the court with recommendations that foster the best interests of children when their parents separate/divorce and cannot agree on a child sharing and parenting plan for children. Children who have a parent or parents that serve in the military are part of family systems that present unique factors and considerations that are typically not present in nonmilitary families. In addition, there are legal considerations involving members of the Uniformed Services that may not apply to civilian parents. This article aims to explore some of these factors and considerations and discuss how they can be incorporated into comprehensive and useful child custody evaluations and parenting plan recommendations. Key Points for the Family Court Community Familiarize attorneys, judicial officers and mental health professionals with special considerations in making custody determination for children who have a parent in the military Discuss how these considerations impact child custody evaluations and the formulation of parenting plan recommendations. Discuss how these considerations impact decisions about best interests of children when the Court makes custody orders.