Evaluations & Custody Home Studies

A custody home study is a process in which a custody evaluator identifies the parenting strengths and weaknesses of the parenting figures in a child's life and determines the needs of a child/children based on age and developmental status. Once this has been accomplished, the evaluator attempts to make a goodness of fit. In other words, the evaluator attempts to match the child/children with the parent best suited to meet the child/children's needs at the point in time. This is done for time spent with and for who is determined to be responsible for making certain decisions such as education, medical and religious matters. As long as there is joint legal custody, both parents should be involved in these decisions, however with primary custody comes the responsibility for taking the lead in these matters. This is a time and energy intensive effort.

The evaluator needs to have the education, training and experience to conduct these studies. Furthermore, the evaluator should have the ability to prepare a report for the parents, caregivers and courts that:

• Outlines the methodology;
  • The instruments used
  • Identifies tasks requested of the participants
  • Identifies methods utilized by the evaluator;
    •  Interview
    • Observation
    • Formal testing, etc.
  • Lists documents reviewed and considered by the evaluator
• Discusses and analyzes test results
• Provides recommendations that; 
  • Are research based 
  • Considers the current literature on the subjects of; 
    • Family dynamics 
    • Parent/child interaction 
    • Child development

 As a custody evaluator in South Dakota, I am one of only two professionals who hold the Nationally Certified Custody Evaluator level of credentialing. To have that credential, an evaluator is required to have training in: child development; psychopathology of children and adults; family dynamics, including, but not limited to parent-child relationships, blended families, and extended family relationships; research, theory, policy and practice regarding divorce and child custody issues and the effects of separation, divorce, custody arrangements, and parental conflict on the psychopathological and developmental needs of children and adults. The evaluator is also required to have engaged in at least five (5) highly conflicted custody court cases. There are only two people in the State of South Dakota and one in North Dakota who possess that credential. There are approximately 146 custody evaluators throughout the United States who have this credential.

My credentials are as follows:

• Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor 
• Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health 
• Nationally Certified Custody Evaluator 
• Nationally Certified Parenting Coordinator 
• Qualified Mental Health Professional 
• Registered Custody Evaluator 
• Registered Custody Mediator 

 Custody home studies can become central to the determination of custody in South Dakota. One needs to be aware that custody evaluators do not make the final determination as to how custody is awarded. That is exclusively a judge’s decision. 

I have completed home studies in every state except Maine and have traveled to Germany and England to do home studies. The average cost for a custody home study is five thousand and eighty seven dollars ($5,087). 

Establishing how the fee is going to be assessed, who is going to pay, and when, is one of the first steps in beginning a home study. At Individual and Family Counseling there is a traditional way studies are paid for, and we have also developed an alternative method for payment. These two methods are as follows:

Traditional system for setting fees:

A. Local study within a radius of 250 miles;

1. Payment of an eight hundred ($800.00) dollar retainer,
2. Final fee paid just prior to receiving the final report with recommendations.
3. The final fee is determined on tests administered, interviews completed at $100.00 per hour, documents reviewed at $100.00 per hour, analysis of data at $100.00 per hour, preparation of report at $100.00 per hour, and secretarial time at $50.00 per hour including office supplies. 

B. Distant studies, one or both parties are:

1. Payment of a one thousand ($1,000.00) retainer
2. 2 and 3 (see above) are the same.

Optional: Available to one or both parties, pay ½ of the study up front, usually $2,500.00. 

1. This caps the fee. When a party pays an up-front fee, they are not charged any more for the study regardless of how much the study actually costs.
2. If the study is completed for less than $5,000.00 the party/parties who paid up-front are entitled to a refund proportioned to the amount they paid.
3. Court testimony is not included in the up-front fee. Court testimony is in addition and is billed at $200.00 per hour.

If there are any questions or concerns regarding fees it is advisable that these be addressed up-front and before the study begins. Finally, please understand that regardless of the fact that you have paid me, the child/children are my real ‘client’. I do not by implication, receipt of money, or by any other action, guarantee you with any results. 

James Simpson, ED.D.