Family court cases are often the most contentious and difficult to manage. Research on high-conflict cases highlights the psychological mechanisms driving these disputes, particularly the need for control, which fuels ongoing litigation.

Evaluators frequently encounter parents exhibiting enduring patterns of maladaptive behavior, often characteristic of personality disorders. However, traditional assessments may miss the core issue—the parents’ psychological functioning and its role in high-conflict interactions. These dynamics not only impact the children but also perpetuate continued legal battles.

The Parent-Focused Forensic Psychological Evaluation shifts the focus to an in-depth assessment of each parent’s psychological makeup. This method employs multiple interviews, personality testing, and collateral reviews (e.g., mental health records, family interviews, legal history) to develop a clinical profile. These findings are then cross-referenced with relevant psychological literature, offering a deeper understanding of the parents’ behaviors.

A comprehensive evaluation reveals the interplay between each parent’s psychological functioning and the impact of divorce, helping professionals move beyond surface-level conflicts. Understanding the individual contributions to the parenting dynamic allows evaluators, mediators, attorneys, and courts to craft more effective parenting plans, temporary orders, and final judgments.

By focusing on the root psychological factors, evaluators can provide clearer insights and practical recommendations for resolving high-conflict custody cases.

Ultimately, these assessments address the pressing questions: “What can be done to assist this family?” and “Why do these parents remain locked in litigation?” The resulting information can help an evaluator, mediator, family attorney or the court understand the parents and formulate temporary orders, parenting plans, and final orders while freeing up court dockets in the process.