Attorney Evaluation Process Expectations and Perceived Utility
| Item | % Endorsing True | n |
|---|---|---|
| I expect the following from the evaluation: | ||
| Review of pertinent medical/psychological records | 100 | 54 |
| Interview of the parent(s) | 100 | 56 |
| Interview of the child(ren) | 100 | 56 |
| Interview of significant others (e.g., stepparents) | 98 | 56 |
| Assessment of the parent-child relationship (e.g., interaction observation) | 98 | 56 |
| Provision of a written report | 98 | 56 |
| Parenting skills assessment | 96 | 56 |
| Psychological testing of the parent(s) (e.g., personality testing) | 91 | 54 |
| Psychological testing of the child(ren) | 89 | 53 |
| Participation in deposition or court testimony | 89 | 56 |
| Substance abuse assessment | 88 | 56 |
| Assessment of child's parental preference | 84 | 55 |
| Review of pertinent legal documents | 69 | 54 |
| Provision of a verbal summary | 68 | 56 |
| Drug screening | 65 | 54 |
| Psychological testing of significant others | 65 | 52 |
| I expect the following from the evaluation report: | ||
| Description of the quality of the parent-child relationship | 100 | 56 |
| Description of the psychological/psychiatric functioning of the parent(s) | 98 | 55 |
| Description of the psychological/psychiatric functioning of the child(ren) | 96 | 54 |
| Determination of whether abuse has occurred | 91 | 55 |
| Clear unequivocal recommendation as to the custody/visitation | 75 | 56 |
| I find the following parts of the report helpful: | ||
| Conclusions/summary (e.g., diagnoses) | 100 | 59 |
| Recommendations regarding custody/visitation | 95 | 56 |
| Recommendations regarding psychological/psychiatric treatment | 95 | 57 |
| Background information regarding the parent(s) and/or child(ren) | 91 | 58 |
| Qualitative (i.e., verbal) findings of psychological testing | 91 | 58 |
| Specific recommendations regarding visitation schedule | 84 | 55 |
| Quantitative (i.e., numerical) findings of psychological testing | 79 | 57 |
| Background information regarding the separation/divorce and custody/visitation dispute | 77 | 56 |
| The evaluation plays a large role in my determination to proceed to trial or negotiate a settlement | 89 | 56 |
| I generally use the report to negotiate a settlement | 81 | 54 |
| I generally use the report to proceed to trial | 62 | 53 |