Custody Assessor

Brief Description of Duties:

Conducts initial meetings with parties in disputed custody cases to provide fact-based information that is used to aid the judicial officers in reaching a decision regarding custody.

Conducts assessments relative to the case, including interviews with the parties and the child, where developmentally appropriate; observations of the child with each party; objective description concerning the needs of the child; interviews with other appropriate individuals, and other means of fact development as specifically ordered by the Court.

Conducts investigations, at the home and school of the child, including objective observations about the child's residence or another location that they frequent; interviews with other appropriate parties, such as adults living in a party's residence, school social workers, teachers, and psychotherapists.

Reviews collateral sources of information related to the care and well-being of the child, e.g., educational, medical, and legal records pertaining to the issue of custody.

Maintains appropriate case documentation, i.e., all contacts, documents, or other possible forms of evidence on which an assessment could rely.

Maintains case confidentiality.
Writes assessment reports within a time standard specified by the standard operating procedures.
Attends court hearings for the purpose of admitting a report and submits to cross-examination, when necessary.

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