Redondo Beach, CA asked in Divorce, Family Law, Child Custody and Child Support for California

Q: Preparing for PPA Hearing?

I'm currently preparing for an upcoming PPA hearing due to consistent disagreements over our child's custody. We had a temporary 50:50 custody arrangement, but our hearing has been rescheduled for 6 months from now. On the day of the hearing, the judge has set a timeline where a custody evaluator will assess the situation from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM. Based on the evaluation, the judge will then preside over the hearing at 1:30 PM and decide which parent will have the child on weekdays for school, taking the evaluator's opinion into account. my Questions:

(1)With only 3.5 hours for the assessment, what's typically covered by the custody evaluator, especially for a child with autism?

(2) Do judges mostly lean on the evaluator's opinion, or are there other major considerations?

(3) Would videos of my wife's behavior, such as yelling due to our child's disability, elderly abuse front of child, or neglecting meals, be useful evidence to PPA evaluator? What other prep

1 Lawyer Answer
James L. Arrasmith
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Answered
  • Divorce Lawyer
  • Sacramento, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: (1) In a 3.5-hour assessment, a custody evaluator may focus on observable interactions between the parents and the child, the home environment, and specific needs related to the child's autism, such as communication skills and routines.

(2) While the evaluator's opinion can carry significant weight, judges will also consider other factors like the child's best interests, each parent's ability to care for the child, and any evidence of abuse or neglect.

(3) Videos showing concerning behavior from your wife could be pertinent evidence. However, it's crucial to present them in a manner that is admissible under California law, and you may also need corroborating evidence or testimony to support the videos.

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