In many divorce cases in the United States where children are involved, a thorough evaluation is required of the child, both parents, and the environment in which the child lives. Mental health professionals charged with performing these evaluations must be well versed in the legal and ethical standards that govern these evaluations as well as the techniques, instruments, and procedures used to create a fair and accurate picture of the child's situation and each parent's fitness for custody. Clinician's Guide to Child Custody Evaluations, Second Edition provides comprehensive coverage of every aspect of the evaluation process, from preparing to perform an evaluation to reporting the results and testifying in court. Drawing on his experience performing more than 1,800 child custody evaluations, Dr. Marc Ackerman offers step-by-step guidance through the process of interviewing, performing behavioral observations, and collecting collateral information. Ackerman walks clinicians through the administration of a wide range of psychological tests and provides details on ASPECT and a number of other instruments designed specifically for evaluating parental fitness for custody. He provides guidelines for evaluating the behavior of parents and presents practical steps to take in determining whether alleged abuse has actually occurred. Two entirely new chapters address the creation of placement schedules and the administration of second-opinion evaluations.

This completely updated Second Edition also includes coverage of recent important legal decisions that have an impact on child custody and new surveys on what judges and attorneys want from evaluations. Supplemented with case studies that illustrate the more sensitive and difficult aspects of this challenging field, Clinician's Guide to Child Custody Evaluations, Second Edition is an indispensable resource for mental health professionals who want to perform at the highest possible level when a child's future is at stake.