Florida Custody - Differences Between Custody Evaluation, Social Investigation & GAL Report

Florida custody law allows the court on three different types of experts in the divorce of parents can not agree on a Parenting Plan or an amendment application has been filed. Each of these experts, a report for the court, but there are big differences in the process, the report will see, and how the report can be used. You can ask the judge to appoint one of these disputed expert in your custody:

Custody Evaluator
SocialInvestigator
Curator

There are four major differences between these experts:

Custody evaluators are licensed psychologists. Social studies can be carried out by psychologists and other licensed and unlicensed mental health practitioners, court staff or child by the staff of the Agency. Guardians ad litem can either lay people trained by the court or lawyers program.
Custody evaluations are governed by the American Psychological Association, extensiveGuidelines for the implementation of the evaluation. Social studies will be governed by Florida Administrative Article 64B4-7, 006, qualifications for the inspector speaks, not the conduct of the investigation. For lay guardians ad litem by a court appointed GAL programs must meet the reporting program standards. Reports of lawyer guardian ad litem is not through specific content guidelines.
Custody evaluators before a rule implementing psychological or reviewpsychological tests. Social researchers can also test or not, depending on the qualifications of the examiner. Guardians ad litem can not carry out tests, but may ask the court to order testing by a licensed expert.
Custody evaluations are used as evidence and must be properly introduced as evidence before the judge can consider them. Social studies are filed with the court upon completion and automatically considered by the judge. GAL reports are filed with theCourt and provided on both sides, but are not generally allowed as evidence because they are filled with hearsay statements.

Florida law allows custody evaluations, investigations and social Guardian ad litem reports, when the parenting plan is controversial. Do you know the difference before you ask the judge to examine an expert, and evaluate your family situation during your Florida divorce or custody case to appoint amendment.