Parental Responsibility Evaluation (P.R.E.) FAQs

Many parents who find themselves in the midst of a contested legal proceeding involving the allocation of parental responsibilities (i.e. living arrangements, visitation and rights of decision-making) consider obtaining an expert’s opinion on the subject through a process known as a Parental Responsibility Evaluation (PRE). As its name suggests, a Parental Responsibility Evaluation is an informative tool that helps the court allocate parental responsibilities between parents in a way that will best meet the immediate and future needs of the minor children involved. Although this evaluation is often critical, many people enter into the process with little knowledge of what they should expect or of what will be expected from them.

What is a Parental Responsibility Evaluator (P.R.E.)?

A Parental Responsibility Evaluator is a licensed professional who investigates into the family’s unique dynamics through a series of interview, examination and observation sessions with each parent and/or minor children. The investigation typically lasts six to eight weeks and concludes upon the P.R.E.’s submission of a final report detailing his/her investigative findings. The PRE’s job is not to determine which parent is a “better” parent, but to rather determine how each parent is best able to meet their children’s needs both in the immediate sense and as the children mature into adulthood, and then develop a parenting plan reflective of these findings.

Do You Need a Parental Responsibility Evaluator or a Child and Family Investigator?

Why Should I Cooperate with the Evaluation?

As a parent, this is your chance to prove to the courts that you are a suitable custodian for your child(ren). Resistance or refusal to cooperate with the evaluation process will make you look bad in the eyes of the Court and will likely negatively influence the Court’s final decision when determining living arrangements, parenting time and decision-making abilities. You want to show the Court that you are reasonable, responsible and capable of putting your children’s needs before your own, which isn’t apparent if you refuse to cooperate with the evaluation. The evaluator’s recommendations hold significant weight with the Court, and while you may contest a decision that you believe to be unfavorable, the Court usually will not deviate from the evaluator’s recommendations unless there is a clear good reason for doing so.

What Should I Expect During the Evaluation Process?

While each evaluator may vary slightly on how they conduct the evaluation, below you may find a quick overview of the most commonly employed investigative techniques in the evaluation process:

1. Several Individual and Joint Interviews

Interviews with the evaluator, you and the other parent;
Individual interviews with just you and the evaluator;
Individual and joint interviews for any children involved;
Visit observations between you and your children;
Visit observations between you and any romantic partner with your children;
Visit observations with just your children;
Interviews with your children’s therapists, teachers, and doctors.

2. Psychological Testing

A unique component of a Parental Responsibility Evaluation, as opposed to other parenting experts/evaluations, is the facilitation of psychological testing, which is why a P.R.E. is often retained in cases where there are allegations of mental illness or substance abuse.

3. Home Visits

Experts will often conduct home visits in order to observe the way you and your children interact in your natural environment.

4. Parent Questionnaires and Autobiography

This allows the evaluator to obtain a sense of each parent’s perspective on the proceeding and is a cost-effective way for the evaluator to obtain the requisite background information of each parent and child.

5. Records Review

Doctor reports, therapist recommendations, and court filings;

6. Background Information from Personal References

The evaluator may obtain information from any individual that you believe may be helpful to the investigation by having the individual complete a written questionnaire.

7. Additional Documentation

You may provide the evaluator with any information you believe may be helpful for him to review when forming his recommendations, such as audio or visual recordings, written documents, photographs, or any other evidence you believe may be helpful.

Who Pays for the Evaluation?

Although neither parent technically “hires” a PRE, the allocated cost of the evaluation will vary depending on who requests the evaluation, and the financial resources available to each parent. If the parents disagree as to who should be the majority caretaker of the children, then they will both likely end up paying for the evaluator’s services equally; however, if there is a disparity in income, the parent who is the primary breadwinner may be responsible for a higher percentage of the fees than the parent who is unemployed or earning a lesser wage.

What is a Psychological Assessment?

A psychological assessment is a unique component of the Parental Responsibilities Evaluation as compared to other parenting assessment options and is used to evaluate the emotional and mental fitness of the individual being tested. Most of the assessments typically utilized by an evaluator fall within the following four categories:

cognitive functioning tests
objective personality tests
projective personality tests
parenting assessment tests.

These tests provide the Parental Responsibility Evaluator and the courts with a scientific method to assess whether an individual is fit and able to provide for the needs of their children.

What is the Role of a Guardian ad Litem?

While a guardian ad Litem may have several roles within the judicial system, when there are parenting disputes, the guardian ad litem often acts as the voice of the child. The Guardian ad Litem’s primary role is to neutrally assess which living and decision-making arrangement the children would thrive under most. The Guardian ad Litem will complete his/her own report to the Court regarding parental fitness and the most enhancive environment.

Contact Clawson & Clawson for a Free Consultation with a Family Law Attorney (719) 602-5888

The family law attorneys at Clawson & Clawson, LLP, have extensive experience working with parenting experts and have established positive working relationships with most parenting experts in the local area. With so many emotions involved in parenting disputes, it is often helpful to have an objective legal professional at your side to work you through the process and make sure your rights are protected throughout the evaluation process. Contact us online or call (719) 602-5888 set up a free initial consultation with a family law attorney today.