Child custody agreements are very often one of the most contentious and highly contested aspects of a divorce settlement. You and your ex likely have very different opinions about how much time your children should spend with you versus how much time they should spend with your ex-spouse. Emotion and conflict can be high. and resolution is often difficult to find. If you and your ex are not able to reach an agreement about how to split your time with your kids, you may benefit from a child custody evaluation. AMS Mediation can provide a Custody Evaluator whose job it is to help the Minnesota Court make a decision about custody and determine guidelines for a parenting plan.
Court Custody Evaluation Process
Amber Serwat of AMS Mediation is a divorce mediation specialist who is also qualified to serve as a Custody Evaluator (CE). If you decide to work with Amber on your case, she will spend time gathering information about your case, including interviewing both parents as well as the children (if age appropriate). During this investigation, she may also speak with the staff at your children’s school, with your children’s doctors and any other relevant persons. She will also complete home visits at both homes and review any pertinent medical records that provide information about any issues with drug dependency or mental health issues.
Once the investigation has been completed, Amber Serwat with AMS Mediation will present findings to the attorneys in the case. If an agreement still cannot be reached, she will present a written report to the courts and is prepared to testify if needed for either party. You can expect the custody evaluation process to take between three and six months.
Experienced Custody Evaluator in Minnesota
The Custody Evaluation process is meant to help you come up with a custody agreement that is in the best interest of the child/children based on Minnesota law and one that a family can reasonably implement. We understand that parents may have very different views of what is best for their children, so this disagreement often leads to the need for a custody evaluation. The court is not bound to take the recommendation of the Custody Evaluation, but in most cases, the Court puts a strong emphasis on them. This is why it is often recommended for you to consider settling after the investigation to save all parties time and money.
If you have questions about the court custody evaluation process in Minnesota, call Amber Serwat of AMS Mediation at 952.252.1492.
