Desert Psychological provides parental capacity evaluations for family court proceedings, including child custody, dependency and neglect (child protective services), parenting time restrictions, and reunification cases. In the U.S., approximately 1 million children are involved in custody disputes annually, and courts increasingly rely on independent psychological experts to assess parenting abilities. Unlike standard custody evaluations that focus on parent-child relationships, parental capacity evaluations specifically examine a parent’s psychological fitness to provide safe, consistent, and developmentally appropriate care. We assess for mental illness, substance use, intellectual disability, personality disorders, impulse control, insight, and parenting judgment. Our evaluations are trauma-informed, culturally responsive, and adhere to the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC) guidelines. We serve family court judges, guardians ad litem, child protective services, and attorneys in both contested and stipulated matters.
Evaluations provided include:
- Parental capacity and fitness evaluations
- High – conflict custody evaluations
- Reunification readiness assessments
- Supervised parenting time recommendations
- Risk assessments for child maltreatment — emotional, physical, sexual neglect
- Psychological evaluation for termination of parental rights –TPR proceedings
- Parenting plan consultations — with detailed time-sharing and safety recommendations
Goals and Benefits
The primary goal is to provide family courts with an objective, evidence-based opinion on a parent’s capacity to meet a child’s physical, emotional, and developmental needs.
Why Choose Us
Desert Psychological combines clinical expertise in child development with forensic training in family law. Our examiners are experienced in both private and court-appointed capacities and produce reports that withstand cross-examination.
