Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ is a work in progress. It covers some of the more common questions that I am asked regarding my services. If you have a question regarding my services that is not listed here please contact me and I will be happy to provide you with more details about my services. As a reminder, I cannot respond to questions regarding specific case details unless a formal working relationship has been established.

Q: How long does it take to complete a social study?

A: Generally social studies can be completed within three to four months of the first interview, however this time frame is dependent on the parties and attorneys involved responding promptly, the flexibility of the parties' schedules, time needed to receive collateral records, and other case specific issues. If the social study is needed by a certain date please make sure that issue is brought to my attention when services are initiated.

Q: Do you work with Collaborative Law cases?

A: Yes, I am available both as a child specialist and as a communications consultant in collaborative law cases. Please see the Collaborative Law Institute of Texas for more information regarding collaborative divorce in Texas.

Q: Your fee statement notes that some issues take more time to evaluate. Why is that?

A: Generally, additional time to complete a social study comes from three areas: additional interviews of stepparents, fiances, stepchildren, roommates, and other persons relevant to the case; review of extensive documentation from professional sources such as Child Protective Services, previous hearings, past psychosocial evaluations, etc.; and review of additional concerns raised during the course of a social study, i.e. issues brought to emergency hearings during the social study or CPS investigations during the course of the study. While these are the most common areas that necessitate additional time to complete the evaluation there are many other case specific issues that can crop up during an evaluation.

Q: Do you use any psychometric testing instruments in your evaluations?

A: No. Although I am trained and licensed to administer common test instruments, such as the MMPI-2, generally I do not use such testing in social study evaluations. Although research has been able to provide some preliminary data on testing with parents who are involved in custody litigation, many test instruments were actually designed to be used with clinical populations who are seeking treatment for mental health issues, and thus are not appropriate for use in a forensic (court-connected) process. Additionally, review of the psychometric "tests" which purport to be useful in child custody cases indicates they are either experimental in nature or are without sound empirical proof of their effectiveness/reliability in providing valid information.

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