Part 1 · General Provisions

Rule 91.04. Custody Evaluation

Amended July 1, 2025 (current)

(A) Order Upon motion of a party, guardian ad litem, counsel for a child, or on its own initiative, a court of common pleas may order a custody evaluation to aid the court in evaluating the best interest of a child in a contested custody or parenting visitation case.

(B) Description of custody evaluation Unless contraindicated in the judgment of the custody evaluator or limited by the order of appointment, a custody evaluation shall include but is not limited to all of the following:

(1) Information obtained through interviews, joint or individual, with each party seeking custody or parenting visitation;

(2) Information obtained through interviews with each child;

(3) Information obtained through interviews with stepparents, significant others, or any other adult residing in the home;

(4) Information obtained through interviews with step or half siblings residing in the home;

(5) Information obtained from child care providers, schools, counselors, hospitals, medical professionals, social service agencies, guardians ad litem, and law enforcement agencies;

(6) Information from home visits or observations of each child with the appropriate adults involved;

(7) Results of clinical tests administered;

(8)