The Steve Frankel Group's 2026 Annual Child Custody Evaluator Update is here!

This 2026 annual update for the Child Custody Evaluators (CCE), as specified by California Rules of Court, rule 5.225(i), is hosted by Lori Love, PhD. Presenters are the Honorable Judge Margo Hoy (ret), Sandra Mayberry, Esq, CFLS, Nancy Brison-Moll, Ph.D., Stefanie Peachie, BA, MSW, RSW, Acc.FM, LPC, and Glenn Lipson, Ph.D., ABPP

Presentations:

Judicial Updates 2026
Legal Updates 2026
Maintaining Boundaries, Ethics and Integrity when performing court connected work
Interviewing Children for Evaluations: Children’s Views and Preferences
The Values and Limitations of the MMPI-3 in Custody Evaluations

== Legal and Judicial Updates

This training provides timely updates on key judicial decisions and legal trends from the past year relevant to Child Custody Evaluators (CCEs). In addition, common concerns and questions about the implications of these decisions have been gathered from other Custody Evaluators, and will be addressed in the Legal and Judicial Updates.

== Legal and Judicial Updates

The training will also address the ethical and professional responsibilities of mental health clinicians engaged in child custody work, particularly in child custody evaluations. It will examine how disciplinary ethics intersect with the legal process and the sensitive roles professionals assume when working with families involved in custody disputes. Common complaints reported to regulatory boards highlight recurring challenges in custody evaluations and clinical practices tied to the courts will be reviewed.

Learn best practices for interacting with the court, emphasizing accurate documentation, confidentiality, and effective communication with both parties and the judiciary. These elements provide a structured roadmap for ethical, competent, and legally sound practice in court-connected clinical work.

== Interviewing Children

Additionally, the training explores the complex and often misunderstood role of children’s views and preferences within high-conflict separation and divorce cases. Mental health professionals, mediators, parenting coordinators, and evaluators are increasingly asked to assess, interpret, and incorporate children’s perspectives into recommendations and parenting decisions. However, children’s stated wishes may be shaped by a wide range of developmental, relational, emotional, and systemic factors that require careful and trauma-informed consideration.

Explore the difference between authentic preferences, stress-based responses, trauma reactions, and relationship resistance arising from family dynamics or coercive processes. Special attention will be given to how age, neurodiversity, emotional regulation, cognitive development, and family system dynamics can influence a child’s ability to express independent and reliable views.

The training will provide practical guidance for conducting child interviews, understanding the limitations of children’s statements, supporting emotional safety, and communicating findings responsibly within parenting plan assessments, Voice of the Child reports, mediation, reunification work, and other family court-related services.

== The MMPI-3

Many jurisdictions are changing their regulations in the near future for Custody Evaluators to use the MMPI-3 instead of the MMPI-2 for assessment. The final presentation in this training focuses on the values and limitations of the MMPI-3 in custody evaluations. We’ll cover best practices for administration, responding to test-takers’ questions, and behavioral observations.

Focus will be given to response style, the risks of confirmation bias and administration challenges. Look at the MMPI-3 and the value it brings to assessment. Examine the need to reference additional normative groups.The training will also cover how to effectively and pragmatically utilize the MMPI-3, including an in-depth discussion of the scales and their interpretation. Participants will learn the best practices for evaluators based on the law and proper inclusion of assessment tools.

Applicable California Rules of Court, rules 5.225 and 5.230, et. seq.

Sponsorship message

Our 2026 Annual CCE and IPV Updates are sponsored by Our Family Wizard. Learn more about this app designed to assist in peaceful and safe co-parenting here.

Our Family Wizard will be presenting a 15 minute showcase of their system – including new features valuable for evaluators to be aware of – during one of the 15 minute breaks of this course. This 15 minute presentation is optional to attend and is not part of the CE credit course.