interview Archives

I’ve never seen a GAL or custody evaluator add value equal to the fees they charge

I’ve never seen a GAL or custody evaluator add value equal to the fees they charge This post is the fourteenth in series of 15 posts on the subject of custody evaluations and the appointment of guardians ad litem (“GALs”…

GAL recommendations are nowhere close to being the best way

GAL recommendations are nowhere close to being the best way to determining the child’s best interest. This post is the thirteenth in series of 15 posts on the subject of custody evaluations and the appointment of guardians ad litem (“GALs”…

Why Not Have the Judge Interview the Children About Child Custody?

Why Not Have the Judge Interview the Children About Child Custody? Why Appoint a GAL or Custody Evaluator When the Judge Can Interview the Children? This post is the first in series of 15 posts on the subject of custody…

There is nothing a GAL could learn how to do that a judge cannot also learn how to do equally well.

There is nothing a GAL could learn how to do that a judge cannot also learn how to do equally well. This post is the ninth in series of 15 posts on the subject of custody evaluations and the appointment…

If everyone agrees that the judge needs to know what the child is experiencing, observing, and feeling, why won’t the judge interview the child?

If everyone agrees that the judge needs to know what the child is experiencing, observing, and feeling, why won’t the judge interview the child? This post is the seventh in series of 15 posts on the subject of custody…

Which Is Better: spending thousands on GAL/custody evaluator or $0 on a judge interview?

December 25, 2020

Divorce Utah

Child Custody, Children in Divorce, Co-parenting, Coping With Divorce, Custody Evaluation, Divorce Fears, Divorce Law, Divorce Mistakes, Divorce Preparedness, Evidence, Expert Witnesses, Fathers' Divorce Issues, GAL (Guardian ad Litem), Judges, Men's Divorce Issues, Modification of Child Custody, Mothers' Divorce Issues, Parent Time, Parental Alienation, Parental Fitness, Parenting Plan, Personality Disorders, Physical Custody, Sexual Abuse, Utah Code, Utah Court Rules, Women's Divorce Issues

24 years, appointed, arguments, children, compelling, court-sponsored hearsay, court's record, custody evaluator, debate, free of charge, GAL, guardian ad litem, inherently traumatic, interview, interview children directly, judge, lack merit, private guardian ad litem, puts them in the middle, qualified, second hand, spend, tens of thousands, third hand, thousands, valid

Which Is Better: spending thousands on GAL/custody evaluator or $0 on a judge interview? How could it be better to spend thousands on a GAL or custody evaluator when the judge can interview children free of charge? This post is…

Believing Judges Interviewing Children Harms Children Rests on False Premises

This post is the eighth in series of 15 posts on the subject of custody evaluations and the appointment of guardians ad litem (“GALs” for short) in Utah child custody cases when the judge could simply interview the children instead.…

Does having the judge interview the children traumatize the children?

December 23, 2020

Divorce Utah

Abuse, Child Abuse, Child Custody, Child Custody Modification, Child Neglect, Children in Divorce, Court Orders, Court Rules, Custody, Custody Evaluation, Divorce, Divorce Attorneys, Divorce Causes, Divorce Mistakes, Emotional abuse, Family Law, Fathers' Divorce Issues, Firing a Divorce Lawyer, GAL (Guardian ad Litem), Judges, Justice and Equity, Juvenile Court, Legal Custody, Legal System, Modification of Child Custody, Modification of Parent-time, Mothers' Divorce Issues, Noncustodial parents, Physical Custody, Preparing for Divorce, Utah Code, Utah Law, Utah Supreme Court Decisions

§ 30-3-10(5), $10, $3, 000, better, child abuse, child witness, children, custody evaluator, different, effectively, free of charge, functionally, GAL, guardian ad litem, hearsay, interview, judge, LCSW, less time, mental health professional, on the record, parents, Psychologist, second hand information, skilled, spending, thousands, trauma, traumatize, Utah code, Utah Legislature

Does having the judge interview the children traumatize the children? This post is the second in series of 15 posts on the subject of custody evaluations and the appointment of guardians ad litem (“GALs” for short) in Utah child…

Do underage children have any say in custody in the U.S.?

April 4, 2018

Divorce Utah

Child Custody, Child Custody Modification, Children in Divorce, Custody, Joint Legal Custody, Joint Physical Custody, Utah Code

30-3-10(1)(e), child custody, court, desires, interview, judge, preferences

Do underage children have any say in custody in the U.S.? In my jurisdiction where I practice family law (Utah), the answer may be hard to discern by reading the Utah Code, but here it is (I’ll explain it after…

Tag: interview