OVERVIEW OF 3111, 3118 & EC 730
CHILD CUSTODY EVALUATION PROCESS
The evaluation process will not begin until Mitchell Rosen receives payment, relevent documents, all questionnaires, and order for evaluation [FL-327]. Typically, Mr. Rosen requires 60-90 days from the date all of the following are supplied:
Provide the following documents to Mitchell Rosen’s office:
Entire case file including all past as well as current custody and visitation orders, mediator’s memos, evaluator’s reports, minute orders, and declarations of both parties, stipulations, restraining orders-all legal documents related to your family law case. Please put all orders, stipulations and agreements, formal and informal in chronological order. Include mediator's memos with mediator's recommendations whether or not they were adopted and be certain the Order Pursuant to CCRC recommendations and any court orders are signed or stamped by the Judge or note they were not adopted.
Each parent shall send to the evaluator by email, fax or mail a chronology of their relationship with the other parent. Please include how the parents met, how long they dated, the dates and cities of each shared/individual residence, reasons for getting together as well as reasons for separating. Include approximate dates of any separations/reconciliations with reasons for each. Please be detailed and include reasons for final separation and why this evaluation was requested.
· If there has been CPS or police involvement, the names of all CPS workers or police officers involved and their contact information. Copies of any CPS reports or documents as well as copies of any police reports. A print out of any criminal history including all arrests whether or not you were convicted or diverted. If a video tape was filmed by either CPS or the police, the attorney is asked to provide Mr. Rosen's office with a subpoena for the DVD's. If this is not sufficient, the attorneys are asked to request a Court Oder that the tapes shall be made available to Mr. Rosen.
· The names, phone numbers and contact information for any attorneys involved including opposing counsel and minor’s counsel (if appointed).
· School report cards and progress reports for each child going back three year including standardized state testing. For younger children reports from pre-school and TK.
· All litigants are asked to fill out the forms listed under 'child custody evauations'- (you may download them in the Forms section of Mr. Rosen’s website). Included in the questionnaires is a waiver of confidentiality that allows Mitchell Rosen to share any information received by either party with the Court, attorneys involved, mediators, other evaluators and/or professionals Mr. Rosen deems essential to the evaluation. if Internet access is not available to the litigant or their attorney, Mr. Rosen's office will mail the questionnaires. Questionnaires must be returned to the office of Mitchell Rosen within one week (7 days) of receipt. Be certain to include the date of the next court hearing.
· If either parent has been on supervised visitation, copies of any supervision monitor’s reports and well as the supervisor’s contact information.
· Certificates of completion and/or attendance for any court ordered parenting programs, co-parenting, or anger management.
· Declarations/ letters of reference signed under penalty of perjury by friends, family,and professionals who have relevant knowledge about this case.
· The names and contact information for any therapist who may have treated either parent and/or children involved in this evaluation.
· Fill out, sign and email the questionnaires from the Forms section of Mr. Rosen’s website, under the subsection entitled child custody: Beginning the Process for Attorneys and Litigants; Overview of 3111, 3118 & 730; Waiver of Confidentiality; Child Development Questionnaire (one for each child); Life History Questionnaire; Patient Information for New Court Clients, Telemedicine, Mitchell Rosen's Qualifications & Accepting Documents. If either parent or child is in therapy, fill out authorization to exchange information with appropriate therapist/clinician. All forms require your signature.
What to expect:
Mr. Rosen will coordinate dates for you, opposing party, significant others and children to be interviewed. Typically significant others include individuals who share a house with or have frequent contact with the minor child or children involved in this evaluation. The names and contact information of all significant others must be provided to the office of Mitchell Rosen and they may be required to fill out questionnaires as well.
If interview is virtual/Zoom it is expected each participant shall be on time or provide 24 hours notice to change or cancel. If interview is in person, each participant must arrive at the times arranged. If an individual is late or does not show, they will be charged at the rate of $200.00 for each hour (prorated in 15 minute increments) that has been set aside. Interviews typically will include:
A conjoint interview with both parents that reviews their relationship and concerns. Conjoint interviews are preferred but not required. If there is a TRO or protective order please ask the evaluator if a conjoint intake is appropriate.
· Individual interviews with each parent
· Individual interviews with each child involved in custody evaluation
· Interviews with significant others deemed appropriate by Mr. Rosen
· At Mr. Rosen’s discretion, family observations with each child and parent with significant others.
· At Mr. Rosen’s discretion, an exit interview with each parent and child.
· At Mr. Rosen’s discretion, additional interviews may be required.
· At Mr. Rosen’s discretion, a home visit may be required.
· At Mr. Rosen’s discretion, psychological testing may be administered.
Final report will be emailed, faxed or mailed to Court, attorneys and parents who are self-represented 10 days before the hearing.