In addition to being one of the few board certified expert divorce attorney in Jacksonville, Florida; I also have been a social investigator for the Jacksonville Courts since 1998. If you are in the process of a divorce in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida, and there is an issue regarding the timesharing of your children, the Judge may require a parenting plan evaluation. They have called this evaluation many things since I began practicing divorce law and doing social investigations in Jacksonville, Florida. It used to be called a custody evaluation, home study evaluation, or social investigation. It may involve psychological testing, home visits, observations of you with your children, interviews of your children and other witnesses, and a review of all of your documents or other exhibits. It can take several months and needs to be given great care by you and your attorney. It also is fairly expensive, often costing each party in excess of $2000.00 in addition to your legal fees.
You should consult with a board certified Jacksonville divorcelawyer like myself before you begin this process. Not all evaluators are right for your case. Should you employ a psychologist, mental health counselor, an attorney, or a guardian ad litem? And if so, which one? Unless you are an experienced divorce lawyer like myself who has been through this process hundreds of times, you are not going to know which evaluator is right for your case. The wrong evaluator can hurt your case and perhaps jeopardize the amount of time that you spend with your children. Experienced board certified divorce lawyer know which evaluator to use for your case and I often have seen new, inexperienced attorney hurt a client's case by choosing the wrong person for the evaluation. I can help you select the right evaluator based upon the issues, gender, the Judge, the other attorney, and a great deal of other subtle factors that can make a big difference when it comes to you getting the time you deserve with your children. I believe I have special knowledge regarding this issue since I perform and prepare the investigations as well as represent parents in my own divorce cases. As always, military families have special considerations. Call me today for your free consultation so that we can take the necessary steps to continue the close relationship that you have with your children before, during, and after your divorce. I look foward to helping you.