Unlock the Science Behind Child Custody Evaluations Psychologists today play a crucial role in providing court assessments for child custody cases. Gone are the days of relying solely on clinical judgment-courts now demand a more scientific approach. But what does this entail? This comprehensive guide offers an evidence-informed framework for conducting child custody evaluations, covering such critical components as forensic interviewing, parent-child observation, document review, and accounting for one's own personal biases. The authors explore the strengths and limitations of psychological testing and assessment, explaining why the future of custody evaluations lies in a dimensional approach that emphasizes behaviors over diagnoses. Extensive research is synthesized on all these critical topics, as well as more specific issues such as alienation, parent-child contact problems, domestic violence, and parental relocation requests. Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the field, this book is an indispensable resource for conducting scientifically sound, legally defensible evaluations.
Jonathan W. Gould, PhD, is a board-certified forensic psychologist specializing in psychological aspects of family law matters, including child custody and child maltreatment. He has authored or co-authored seven books and several dozen peer-reviewed articles and book chapters addressing child custody matters. He has presented at national and international conferences to mental health professionals, attorneys, and judges for more than three decades. This book represents an update and conceptual extension of his previous books, Conducting Scientifically Crafted Child Custody Evaluations and The Art and Science of Child Custody Evaluations (with David Martindale). Christopher M. Mulchay, PhD, ABPP, is the co-author of The Family Law Professional's Field Guide to High-Conflict Litigation: Dynamics, Not Diagnoses. With Jonathan Gould, Dr. Mulchay has co-authored the chapters on child custody in both TheOxford Handbook of Psychology and Law (2023) and APA Handbook of Psychology and Law (2025). Dr. Mulchay has also reviewed tests for the Journal of Pediatric Neuropsychology. He has published four test reviews, and he has multiple under review. Dr. Mulchay is board certified in forensic psychology by the American Board of Professional Psychology. He is a fellow in the American Academy of Forensic Psychologists.
Introduction: The Forensic Explorer Part I. Conceptual Foundation for an Evidence-Informed Approach to Parenting Plan Evaluation Chapter 1. Daubert and the Changing Nature of Parenting Plan Evaluations: From Clinical to Forensic Chapter 2. Current Expectations and Criticisms of Parenting Plan Evaluations Chapter 3. Common Errors in Child Custody Evaluations Chapter 4. The Role of Clinical Judgment in the Time of Daubert Part II. Using Scientific Knowledge and Process Chapter 5. What Qualifies as Scientific Evidence in Parenting Plan Evaluations? Chapter 6. Applying General Scientific Findings to Individual Cases: The G2i Challenge Part III. Mitigating Bias in Your Evaluation Chapter 7. The Role of Bias in Data Collection, Data Integration, and Opinion Formation Chapter 8. Sociocultural Identities and Systemic Inequities Chapter 9. Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Part IV. Data Collection and Integration Chapter 10. Using Story Development Principles to Guide Data Collection and Integration Chapter 11. Procedural Variables in Forensic Interviewing Chapter 12. What to Ask About in Forensic Interviews Chapter 13. Special Considerations for Interviewing Young Children Chapter 14. Parent-Child Observation Chapter 15. Usefulness and Limitations of Psychological Testing and Assessment Chapter 16. Selecting and Using Psychological Tests Chapter 17. The Shift from Categorical to Dimensional Diagnostic Models Chapter 18. Collateral Interviews and Record Review Part V. Common Issues in Parenting Plan Evaluation Chapter 19. Early Conceptualizations of Parent-Child Contact Problems Chapter 20. Modern Conceptualizations of Parent-Child Contact Problems Chapter 21. Evolving Conceptualizations of Domestic Violence Chapter 22. Tools to Assess for Domestic Violence Chapter 23. Forensic Assessment of Parental Requests to Relocate Epilog: The Integration of Judgment, Data, and Science in Custody Evaluation References
