§571-46.4 Child custody evaluators; qualification; registry; complaints. (a) [Subsection effective until June 30, 2026. For subsection effective July 1, 2026, see below.] Subject to subsection (c), a person may be appointed as a child custody evaluator for purposes of section 571-46 if the person is actively licensed as a:
(a) [Subsection effective July 1, 2026. For subsection effective until June 30, 2026, see above.] Subject to subsection (c), a person may be appointed as a child custody evaluator for purposes of section 571-46 if the person is actively licensed as a:
(b) A person may be appointed as a child custody evaluator in the absence of a license under subsection (a) if:
(c) Beginning July 1, 2024, the following requirements shall apply to a person described in subsection (a) or (b)(2) who seeks to be appointed as, or who wishes to continue acting as, a child custody evaluator pursuant to this section:
(d) The judiciary shall maintain on its website a publicly accessible registry of child custody evaluators who are qualified pursuant to this section. Professionals who are willing and available to perform child custody evaluations shall be responsible for providing the judiciary with relevant information, including contact information, evidence of qualifications, and fees.
(e) The judiciary shall establish a referral process to allow parties to file a complaint with the judiciary regarding a court-appointed child custody evaluator. Upon notification by a party of the party's intent to file a complaint against a child custody evaluator appointed under subsection (a), the judiciary may refer the complainant to the appropriate licensing authority. The judiciary shall submit to the legislature an annual report regarding the number of complaints against court-appointed child custody evaluators that are processed through the referral process.
(f) A complaint against a court-appointed child custody evaluator not qualified under subsection (a) may be resolved through civil litigation. [L 2013, c 103, §2; am L 2023, c 85, §2; am L 2024, c 93, §33]