Licensed clinical psychologist and social worker Miriam J. Galindo, PsyD, has been helping children and families in the Irvine, California, area for over 20 years. Dr. Miriam Galindo is highly experienced in performing child custody evaluations and operates a private practice for counseling and support in cases involving high-conflict divorce.

A child custody evaluation, also called a 730 evaluation, examines parenting practices and mental health in order to inform court decisions that will be in the best interests of the child. Evaluations can be ordered by a judge, entered into with both parties agreeing, or approved by a judge at the request of one parent. The process takes approximately one to three months to complete.

First, the appointed evaluator interviews parents and others involved in the care of the child, including immediate and extended family members, teachers, childcare providers, and friends. Parent-child observation is the next step, performed in a neutral space. Then parents and children undergo psychological testing. The evaluator next reviews reports and documents and makes home visits. Finally, the evaluator makes recommendations to the court regarding custody and visitation.