Form of custody evaluations

The purpose of a custody evaluation is to provide the court with information it may consider in making decisions regarding custody and parenting time arrangements that are in the child's best interest. A custody evaluator shall consider and respond to the factors as set forth by the court in §§ 25-4A-24 , 25-4-45 and §§ 25-4A-33 to 25-4A-37 , inclusive. A custody evaluator shall: (1) Use interview, assessment, and testing procedures that are consistent with generally accepted clinical, forensic, scientific, diagnostic, or medical standards; (2) Complete a fact-finding investigation; (3) Interview service providers and other collateral sources (teachers, psychologists, psychiatrists, doctors, nurses, neighbors, and others) who are knowledgeable about the child and family; and (4) Administer or obtain psychological evaluations only upon receiving a court order or an agreement between the parties. Psychological evaluations must only be administered and interpreted by a licensed expert. Every custody evaluation report must contain the following: (1) The procedures employed during the evaluation; (2) The data collected as permitted by professional standards; (3) Testing results; (4) An explanation of any limitations in the evaluation or any reservations of the professional regarding the resulting recommendations; (5) Verification of each statement of material fact upon which the evaluator relied and the sources of verification, or alternatively, the inability to verify material facts and reasons therefore; (6) The amount of time spent with each party and child; and (7) Application and discussion of each of the factors set forth in §