According to the APA, most child custody issues in Minnesota are resolved within a short period of time. However, there are cases in which an agreement is taking too long to be reached, and the judge needs extra help making a determination. In some cases, one spouse or the other may stall an agreement from being reached due to accusations about the other parent’s capability to raise a child. In this case, a judge may appoint a forensic psychologist to help everyone come to an agreement. Read on to learn further about the tasks of a forensic psychologist in a child custody battle.
In the best interest of the child
First and foremost, the job of a forensic psychologist is to recommend a plan that provides the best outcome for the child. The child’s best interest is always their first priority, so a parent who wants the best possible result in their child custody case needs to make this their priority too.
Data gathering
To figure out the best plan for the child, a forensic psychologist will have to gather a large amount of data. The psychologist will use the data gathered to determine the best possible plan going forward as well as to prove their conclusion to the court. Some of the data gathering will include tasks such as:
- Clinical interviews
- Behavioral observation
- Document research
When a forensic psychologist enters the picture, parents may be worried about the process. It is recommended to work with an attorney to understand how the proceedings will affect the case and to gather all the necessary evidence for the forensic psychologist. Doing this may improve a parent’s chances of seeing a positive outcome.
