730 Evaluation

What is a 730 Child Custody Evaluation?

The purpose of a 730 Evaluation may be based from many determining factors. What we are describing herein is an overview of the evaluation process itself.
 
The evaluator will meet with you alone, with you and your first child, with you and your other child (if any, etc.), with the children alone, with the other parent alone and the other parent with each child.

During each parent’s separate session, the evaluator will have each of you take a battery of psychological tests.  At a minimum, this usually consists of the MMPI and the Child Abuse Potential Inventory.  One of the common problems when taking these tests is people try to answer the questions in a way they think will make them “look good” to the evaluator.  The problem with this tactic is that the results show that they were trying to “look good” and that carries it’s own conclusions.  Basically, we are suggesting you try to relax as much as possible, respond truthfully and naturally.  

The evaluator will also take an oral history of your life and ask you about your concerns as a parent, and as a partner in co-parenting.  I suggest you organize your thoughts and make a list of your concerns, and bring the list with you as a reference.  Often people with have what they want to discuss in their mind beforehand, but get distracted during the process and forget to raise vital issues.   It is vital that you don’t slam the other parent.  Your attitude must reflect the parent he/she was before you separated, and how unfortunate it is that the current situation has rendered him/her incapable of sharing the children.  Please convey to the evaluator that you would share the children and hope each of you may receive some counseling, separately and together, that would lead to peaceful co-parenting. 

The attorneys usually provide the evaluator with copies of pertinent pleadings, letters, and orders.  The evaluator may or may not ask for names and telephone numbers of people that can corroborate what you say.  Sometimes an evaluator will ask your friends to either call or provide letters about your character, parenting skills, your relationship with the children, etc.

During your sessions with the children, the evaluator will be observing the manner in which you interact.  I suggest you try to mentally ignore the fact that you are being observed, and just interact in the normal, natural way you already do.

The one thing to keep in mind is that there is no confidentiality in this process.  Anything discussed with the evaluator can show up in the report, a copy of which will be viewed by each party, their counsel, and the Judge.