SOCIAL INVESTIGATIONS
A social investigation, formerly called a custody evaluation, includes:
A social investigation, formerly called a custody evaluation, includes:
- Visits to the homes of each caregiver
- Observations of each child with each adult in parenting role
- Screening for domestic violence and abuse; all allegations are investigated and/or reported to the Child Abuse hotline
- Contact with others living in each home
- Contact with relevant professionals, such as teachers, doctors and employers
- Interviews with objective character references submitted by each parent
- Background checks of relevant police and court records
- Findings of related cases, when identified
- Completion of relevant surveys and questionnaires as requested by the social investigator
- Psychometric assessment to determine the presence of mental health disorders, likelihood of abuse, substance use, etc.
- Presentation of facts to the court, addressing all the pertinent details relevant to a child’s best interest, and addressing parental responsibility and time-sharing arrangements as requested.
DIVORCE MEDIATION
Divorce mediation is about you and your soon to be ex-spouse deciding your own divorce and what is best for the both of you and most importantly, your children. In mediation, you and your spouse meet with a neutral third party, the mediator, and with their help, you work through the issues you need to resolve so the two of you can end your marriage as amicably and cost effective as possible. The issues covered include but at not limited to the following:
1. Distribution of Property (Assets/Liabilities)
2. Child Custody and Parenting Time
3. Child Support/Maintenance
Divorce mediation is about you and your soon to be ex-spouse deciding your own divorce and what is best for the both of you and most importantly, your children. In mediation, you and your spouse meet with a neutral third party, the mediator, and with their help, you work through the issues you need to resolve so the two of you can end your marriage as amicably and cost effective as possible. The issues covered include but at not limited to the following:
1. Distribution of Property (Assets/Liabilities)
2. Child Custody and Parenting Time
3. Child Support/Maintenance
- Mediation is flexible and confidential. It gives you and your spouse a way to settle the conflict between you in a way that helps you to work together as parents. This is extremely important if you have children and must interact with your ex-spouse after you are divorced. Mediation brings about communication between the couple, which can then be used when they must discuss issues in pertaining to the children. Lack of communication may have been one of the main reasons for their divorce. Mediation has the ability to help the couple learn to communicate again, if only for the sake of the children, and make their post-divorce relationship better than their married one.
- A divorce mediator is neutral and doesn't "work" for either parent. That means the mediator can not give advice to either party. They must remain neutral no matter what the situation.
- What the mediator can do, though, is assist the divorcing couple in formulating ideas that can eventually lead to agreements that will stand the test of time. That open and free exchange of information frees up both spouses to negotiate with each other in confidence. Because both spouses are working with the same base of information, it usually takes far less time to negotiate a resolution that makes sense to both spouses.
- Mediation is voluntary. It continues only for so long as all three of you - you, your spouse, and the mediator -- want it to. Mediations can be conducted weekly, every two weeks, monthly or how ever often the couple wants them to be. This is their mediation and they decide everything in the process.
THERAPEUTIC SUPPORT TO FAMILIES IN TRANSITION
When we get start a relationship, we never expect that we will one day have to consider the effects of divorce or separation on our family. In reality, helping children adjust to separation or divorce is something many couples eventually have to face. Many families adjust quite well to divorce, once life becomes settled and stable again. Adjustment becomes easier, especially if the parents are also adjusting well. However, this is not always the case. It is important to understand the child or children of a divorced couple may need therapeutic help to talk about and process feelings.
Whether you are in the midst of a separation, or have already finalized things, I provide:
When we get start a relationship, we never expect that we will one day have to consider the effects of divorce or separation on our family. In reality, helping children adjust to separation or divorce is something many couples eventually have to face. Many families adjust quite well to divorce, once life becomes settled and stable again. Adjustment becomes easier, especially if the parents are also adjusting well. However, this is not always the case. It is important to understand the child or children of a divorced couple may need therapeutic help to talk about and process feelings.
Whether you are in the midst of a separation, or have already finalized things, I provide:
- Child-centered transition planning: Collaboration with parents to develop child-focused transition plans that prioritize the needs and best interests of the children during times of change.Co-parenting guidance: Assisting parents in developing effective co-parenting strategies and communication techniques to minimize conflict and support the well-being of children.
- Divorce or separation support: Emotional support and guidance to individuals and families going through the process of divorce or separation, including helping them navigate legal and logistical aspects.
- Blended family support: Assistance to families in creating harmonious relationships in blended families, addressing challenges related to parenting, step-parenting, and integrating different family systems.
