pysch evaluation?- worth it? costs? process?

[Anonymous]

I want to order one for my STBXH who is mentally ill and volatile, medicated, but also may be using illegal drugs. The question is is he safe enough to be with the kids for extended periods of time, like all weekend. And at least, let him know that I intend to monitor this, so hopefully he'll be on good behavior around the kids?

My lawyer said it's costly and time consuming, but not much else.

Anyone go through it?

[Anonymous]

No

[Anonymous]

At least in Va, you would have to have a good reason to get it ordered. you can't just ask for an invasive procedure just because. So, make sure your attorney alleges some concerning behaviors, previous diagnosis, etc in order to get one ordered.

Once one is ordered, these psychologists don't make a determination about safety or custody. It's truly just a diagnosis, concerns, traits, and recommendations. so, it would be up to the attorney to connect the dots to say, for example, a diagnosis of bipolar disorder to custody. You could also ask for a parental fitness evaluation as part of that.
I think it could be valuable but also, once you ask for one, it could go the other way and the expert determines that there are no major mental health issues. If you are willing to run that risk, I would say you should do it. If you can afford it-you would to pay and it will be somewhere between 7-10K for a really good one

[Anonymous]

If you pay enough you can find an evaluator to agree with what ever you say and screw over your ex so they get no contact. There are always greedy unethical evaluators.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you pay enough you can find an evaluator to agree with what ever you say and screw over your ex so they get no contact. There are always greedy unethical evaluators.

I don't want him to have no contact with the kids. I want a safe amount of contact. I want him to stay on his meds. I want him hopefully not to use illegal drugs, at least 24 hours before he has the kids. or at least have something on record in case he ends up going off the rails.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you pay enough you can find an evaluator to agree with what ever you say and screw over your ex so they get no contact. There are always greedy unethical evaluators.

I don't want him to have no contact with the kids. I want a safe amount of contact. I want him to stay on his meds. I want him hopefully not to use illegal drugs, at least 24 hours before he has the kids. or at least have something on record in case he ends up going off the rails.

You cannot control those things post divorce.