Social Studies in Child Custody Disputes

Just as the court might order a psychological examination during a divorce proceeding or custody dispute, the court might also order a social study. The social study is conducted in the home(s) the child lives in by a trained social worker. The purpose of the social study is to look into the condition of the home and relationship between the child and a person seeking to become the child’s managing conservator, or seeking possession of the child.

These studies are very similar to the studies done in adoption suits.

Social studies are not always ordered by the court. The purpose of the social study is to determine what kind of custody arrangement will be in the best interest of the child. They are more often to be ordered in cases where one or both parents are asking to be named Sole Managing Conservator, or where there are allegations of abuse or drug use.

Avoiding a long and expensive social study is one reason to consider compromising with your spouse to create a custody agreement together. Many people don’t know that the courts will usually adopt a custody arrangement developed by the parties out-of-court. Of course, there are circumstances where an agreement cannot be reached, and it becomes appropriate to take the custody dispute to court. There are also situations where a social study is necessary to help the court decide what is in the best interest of the child. Families should always consider all of their options and remember to keep the best interests of the children in mind when deciding how to handle a custody dispute.

What to Expect From Your Social Study

Social Studies tend to be very in-depth. Some things you might expect during the social study include:

• One or more visits to the home(s), with or without the children present. These visits can last several hours.
• Questionnaires to fill out
• The social worker might contact third parties, such as teachers or therapists
• The social worker might ask you for references
• A variety of documentation may be reviewed, including tax or school records
• The social worker might review the psychological evaluation, if one has been ordered

The social worker will use all of the information to make a recommendation to the judge regarding what type of custody arrangement will be in the child’s best interest.

Wilhite & Lea, P.C. | Houston Family Lawyers

The attorneys at Wilhite & Lea are knowledgeable and experienced at handling all types of family law and divorce cases. We can help you decide whether a social study might be necessary in your case, and help you prepare for it. They can also help you explore less contentious options for settling your child custody dispute. If you are in Houston or surrounding areas, including Harris County, Montgomery County, Washington County, Grimes County, Fort Bend County and Waller County and are facing a child custody battle, contact Wilhite & Lea today for an evaluation of your case.