How to Prepare Your Child for a Custody Case

A common and recurring practice in the process of deciding child custody matters, is the custody evaluation. The parents may opt to volunteer for the evaluation, or the court may order it. In either situation, your child will be the one who is expected to answer the questions. For a child involved in a divorce proceeding already, with parents who may be fighting one another over custody issues, things don't get much more stressful than this.

There is big difference between preparing your child for the interview, and negatively guiding what their responses to particular questions should be. Your child is already under a great deal of pressure, having to be concerned with remembering specific answers will only add to their discomfort and trauma. Consider eliminating any and all expectations for them completely, and allowing them to relax and see the interview as if they are having a visit to a therapist or other counselor.

Explain to your child that under all circumstances the only thing they are required to do is be 100% truthful. Assure them that there is no right or wrong answer, and that they will not get either their parents, or themselves into any trouble with any of their answers. Very often children are more concerned for their parents and will worry that something they say will harm one or both.

Refrain from any and all coaching of what your child should or shouldn't say in the interview. If your child is genuinely afraid of one parent or the other, the interviewer will be best able to discern that fact from an honest answer. A coached response will always sound false and give the evaluator reason to be suspect for the remainder of the interview.

If you are facing a custody dispute in RI, contact Alves Law for an appointment.
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If you have questions about this posting or are interested in Divorce, Immigration, or Estate Law in RI or MA contact Massachusetts and Rhode Island Divorce Lawyer Rui P. Alves at 401-942-3100 or CONTACT him via email.