Houston Divorce Lawyers: In your divorce or child custody case you may be faced with a difference of opinion between yourself and your opposing party on who should have the right to determine the primary residence of your child. When it comes to child custody issues this is the most basic and important dispute that you and your child’s other parent could have.

While you all may come to an agreement on how to settle this issue down the road in your case, as of now you are faced with the prospect of a longer than average case length and the possibility of having to rely on your judge to decide the case. If either of these eventualities could be avoided that would be for the best but in some situations you cannot do so.

A social study evaluation will occur in almost every situation where you and your opposing party disagree on this subject. When conservatorship, possession and/or access to your child are in dispute then a social study will likely be ordered by your judge. Today’s blog post from the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC will discuss what a social study is, how it will impact your case and its possible effects on the outcome of the legal matter that you are engaged in.

What does the law in Texas say about social studies?

The Texas Family Code contains the state law on family law cases like the one that you are going through. This includes subjects related to social studies. The key thing to understand about social studies is at their conclusion the person who conducts the study will make a recommendation to the judge regarding which parent should have the right to designate and determine the primary residence of your child. While not every case will hinge on what the social study recommendation is, many cases will. Knowing what to expect could mean the difference between you reaching your goals and falling short.

How long can a social study last?

From my experiences a social study can last anywhere from six months to a year and a half in length. Interviews are conducted during the course of the social study of you, your child’s other parent, and any other persons that are relevant to your case. Your child will be interviewed where age appropriate with you and your opposing party. A solo interview of the person conducting the study with your child occur as well.

You will be asked, along with your child’s other parent, to provide the social study evaluator with a list of references can be contacted in regard to your parenting skills and history. The interviewer will ask your references for an explanation of their history with you as a parent and their judgments of you regarding your involvement with your child. School teachers, counselors, physicians and other people in your child’s life may be interviewed as well.

When an evaluation is complete what happens next?

Family Law Attorney Houston: When all interviews and inspections of your home have been completed the evaluator will have everything that he or she needs to begin writing a report for the judge in your case. That report will detail their findings and will explain the recommendation regarding which parent should win the right to determine the primary residence of your child. Other recommendations that are commonly made involve whether or not a geographic restriction should be put in place that limits where your child can live as well as a finding regarding visitation schedules for the parent who does not win the right to determine your child’s primary residence.

I will reiterate that the judge does not have to listen only to the recommendations made in the report that the social study evaluator creates. In fact, it would be a rare instance where your judge only relies on the recommendations when it is all said and done.

With that said, the social study evaluator was likely chosen by the judge and that means that he or she must feel strongly that the opinions of this person are worth considering. With that said the social study is something to take very seriously even if it is not necessarily issue determinative.

When is a social study begun in your case?

Houston Divorce Attorney: A social study is usually ordered to begin at the conclusion of a temporary orders hearing. If you are involved in a contested child custody case it is likely that you have to go to a temporary orders hearing to decide this issue. The same can be said of a divorce (in addition to any property issues that need to be resolved on a temporary basis). A judge will give you and the opposing party an opportunity to agree to what person will conduct the study but if you cannot agree one will be appointed by the judge.

Who will conduct the social study in your case?

Therapists, counselors and people with mental health backgrounds are typically the sorts of people who are appointed to conduct social studies in family law cases. Licensed social workers, psychiatrists and psychologists typically fit the bill in this regard. Once you find out who the social study evaluator will be look into their professional history on the internet. If you do not believe that the person has the minimum qualifications to do the job you need to contact your attorney. At the very least your attorney can speak to you about the person’s resume or can raise their being appointed in a hearing with opposing counsel, the judge and the social study evaluator.

What to expect when you are interviewed in the social study

As I mentioned a moment ago you will be interviewed during the social study along with your child’s other parent. Your child will also be interviewed by themselves as well as with you and your opposing party in groups of two. In order so that coaching cannot occur all of these interviews will likely take place on the same day.

The social study evaluator will want to learn how you relate to your child and vice versa. It is helpful to be able to learn this information outside of the distractions of other people and things. Preparation for these interviews is important. Even if you consider yourself to be a great, involved parent you will likely encounter questions and subject matter that you never really consider in your day to day life. In order to provide answers that address the concerns of the social study evaluator you will want to work with your attorney beforehand so that you can fully prepare.

Whatever parenting skills you have will be on display during this interview. A lot of people have told me over the years that the social study interview feels forced or unnatural. I can’t necessarily disagree with these folks, but I would argue the whole premise of a family law case feels unnatural and hard to stomach a lot of times. With that said, this is the position that you are in and it is recommended that you enter the process fully prepared

More on social studies in tomorrow’s blog post

Houston Family Lawyer: When we pick up on the topic of social studies in tomorrow’s blog post, we will focus on home visits and the ever exciting topic of paperwork that is associated with social studies.

If you have questions about the subject matter that we touched on today please consider contacting the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC. We offer free of charge consultations with licensed family law attorneys six days a week where your questions can be answered in a comfortable, pressure free environment.