Alright, so, I had this whole thing with a court-ordered psychological evaluation for custody. Let me tell you, it was a ride.
First off, I got this notice from the court. Basically, it said I had to go through a psychological evaluation as part of the custody battle I was in. My ex and I couldn’t agree on anything, so the judge decided this was the way to go.
Finding the Right Evaluator
I started by looking around for someone who could do this evaluation. It’s not like you can just pick anyone. It had to be someone approved by the court. I asked around, got some names, and finally settled on this one psychologist who seemed experienced enough.
The Evaluation Process
- I went in for the first session, feeling all kinds of nervous. We talked about my background, my relationship with my kid, and all the drama with my ex. It was intense.
- There were a bunch of these sessions. Sometimes it was just me, sometimes my kid was there too. The evaluator observed how we interacted, asked my kid some questions, and just tried to get a feel for the whole situation.
- I also had to fill out a ton of paperwork. Questionnaires about my mental health, my parenting style, you name it. It felt like I was writing a book about myself.
- They talked to my ex, too, of course. Got their side of the story. I guess they even spoke to some other people, like family members or teachers, to get a broader picture.
Waiting for the Results
After all that, it was just a waiting game. It took weeks for the evaluator to write up their report. I was on edge the whole time, wondering what they were going to say. Finally, the report came in.
The Outcome
The evaluator made their recommendations to the court. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows, but it was fair, I guess. They took into account everything they learned during the evaluation and suggested a custody arrangement that they thought was best for my kid. The judge considered the report, and in the end, made the final decision based on that and other evidence. And that is my story.
