Mental health professionals are now frequently asked to offer opinions regarding child custody and visitation issues. In formulating a recommendation, the evaluator analyzes family dynamics and their effect on the child. This comprehensive guide provides brief summaries of the various legal issues, social science research, and assessment procedures involved in court-ordered evaluations of children and families. It also contains guidelines for performing child custody evaluations for the family courts, along with brief summaries of the related social science research and legal criteria. Coverage incorporates discussion of the laws and the specific issues, including sexual orientation, mental illness, substance abuse, violence and physical abuse. It also offers samples of child custody cases.