Johnson County Child Custody Evaluation

Johnson County Court Services

Domestic
     Child Custody Evals
     Higher Ground
     Mediation
     Solid Ground

Child Custody Evaluations, often referred to as home studies, are written assessments made by Court Service Officers that provide information to District Court Judges regarding the best interest of children when the Judge is asked to make a decision about the children.

To initiate a Child Custody Evaluation, it requires a Court Order from a judge.
There will be a fee assessed by the judge in your case for the evaluation.
Once an evaluation has been ordered, call Domestic Court services and supply your mailing address and phone numbers.
The evaluation will start by having an individual meeting with each parent in our office.
Some evaluations will be limited in scope. This decision will be made by your judge or court staff following initial interviews.
In most cases, each parent will be interviewed in their home with the children present.
Step-parents and significant others will be expected to be present at the home visit.
The evaluator will speak with collateral contacts - personal references and professionals who have been involved with the family.
Professional contacts include teachers, sitters, daycare providers, doctors, counselors, and specialists.
Further contacts with the parents or the children will be determined by the evaluator.
All cases will be reviewed with others on the Domestic Relations staff before a final report is written.
A written report will be prepared that will summarize the data and will include the evaluator’s assessments and recommendations.
This written report will be one tool that the judge will use in making decisions about the children.
An evaluation will take at least 8-10 weeks after your case has been assigned to an evaluator.

Our hours are from 8:00am to 5:00pm, Monday through Friday. For questions and further information on Child Custody Evaluations, call 913-715-7400.