Did you know that only around 4% of custodial cases end up going to trial? In most cases, a custody agreement can be reached during the course of a divorce. This is partially thanks to the hard work of social investigators as well as cooperation from the divorcing parents.
Orlando Social Investigations often play this important role in cases between divorcing Floridians. If you want to learn more about how a social investigations evaluator can ease some of the burdens in the otherwise stressful process of divorce, keep reading this informative article.
When a couple with children gets divorced, the family court judge's decisions are made in the best interest of the child. One of the most important decisions is how custody gets shared between the parents in co-parenting disputes. Social investigators support custody litigations.
A social investigator is a professional who looks at the mental health of the parents and children to inform the court in this process. They can be healthcare professionals like psychologists, therapists, or social workers.
A court can order a social investigator to get involved in a case. One or both parties can also hire one by themselves. At the end of the case, the divorcing couple will have to pay the investigator's fees.
When social investigators get involved in timesharing disputes, they'll use a number of techniques to find out what's in the child's best interest. These include interviews, home visits (scheduled and random), and past records to get an idea of the situation. They can even call for drug testing in extreme cases.
They often conduct quite a broad investigation. They won't limit themselves to the children and the parents, but will often also interview teachers, friends, extended family, and other people in the family's social sphere.
When the social investigation is done, the investigator compiles a report. This report contains detail on the family's mental health, relationships, and each parent's abilities to care for the children. From this point on, there are a number of ways the case can go.
The couple can be forced to come up with a parenting plan. This normally happens when both parents are able to fulfill responsibilities to the child. This is separate from considerations around maintenance and alimony.
Sometimes the court rules that a child should have limited to no contact with one of the parents. Such decisions are made on the basis of a very negative social investigation report (among other things).
The social investigation process is common across the USA. These investigations are done so that divorce and family court judges have a clear idea of what's in the children's best interests. Because divorce procedures are regulated by state law, it's best to find local investigators.
It's mandatory for all divorcing parents in Florida to go through this process. Contact our Orlando Social Investigations today to learn more. We can navigate this difficult process together.