ad hoc
non-testifying
psychological
consultant

(employed by
attorney or firm)

• Retained by counsel for a specific period to be available to consult on all cases
• Impartial, child-centered regardless of who employs
• Review case documents
• Interview litigant(s)
• Research relevant literature, ethics, guidelines, standards
• Help prepare direct and cross-examination
• Debrief and strategize following critical events
• Mandated reporter
  

• NO disclosure to opposing counsel
• Does NOT collect new data
• Does NOT depose, testify, or prepare a report
  
• Does NOT coach litigant in advance of evaluation, deposition, or testimony
  
• Retains child-centered bias = is NOT a "hired gun"
  
• Can NOT take on any other case that involves retaining attorney for duration of term
• Can NOT provide any other service to any party to this matter during or after litigation

Non-testifying
case-specific
psychological consultant

(employed by
attorney or firm)

• Retained by counsel for a specific case
• Impartial, child-centered regardless of who employs
• Review case documents
• Interview litigant(s)
• Research relevant literature, ethics, guidelines, standards
• Help prepare direct and cross-examination
• Debrief and strategize following critical events
• Mandated reporter

• NO disclosure to opposing counsel
• Does NOT collect new data
• Does NOT depose, testify, or prepare a report
  
• Does NOT coach litigant in advance of evaluation, deposition, or testimony
  
• Retains child-centered bias = is NOT a "hired gun"
• Can NOT provide any other service to any party to this matter during or after litigation

• Retained by counsel for a specific case
  
• All communications with counsel
• Funding from counsel
  
• Impartial, child-centered regardless of who employs
• Opine regarding the generic science, ethics, guidelines, standards and best practice
  
• Prepare a report, be deposed and/or testify
• Respond to hypotheticals that may allow counsel to tie the science to the case at bar
  
• Mandated reporter

• Can NOT interact with litigant in order to preserve impartiality
• Does NOT review case-specific materials
  
• Prefer NOT funded by litigant to preserve privilege
  
• Can NOT provide any other service to any party to this matter during or after litigation
• Can NOT provide any other service to any party to this matter during or after litigation

Testifying
expert
psychological
witness**

(employed by
attorney or firm)

• Retained by counsel for a specific case
  
• All communications with counsel
• Funding from counsel
  
• Impartial, child-centered regardless of who employs
• Review case-specific materials in order to infer a fact pattern
• Opine about that fact pattern
  
• Research relevant literature, ethics, guideline and standards
• Prepare a report, be deposed and/or testify
• Mandated reporter

• Can NOT interact with litigant in order to preserve impartiality
• Prefer NOT funded by litigant to preserve privilege
  
• Can NOT provide any other service to any party to this matter during or after litigation
• Can NOT help counsel prepare direct and cross
• Can NOT provide any other service to any party to this matter during or after litigation

Professional work product review**

(employed by
attorney or firm)

• Retained by counsel for a specific case
• All communications with counsel
• Funding from counsel
• Impartial, child-centered regardless of who employs
• Review mental health professional's or Guardian ad litem report and/or file
• Can ONLY opine about the quality of another professional's work product
  
• Research and apply relevant literature, ethics, guidelines, standards
• Help prepare direct and cross-examination
• Mandated reporter

• Can NOT interact with litigant in order to preserve impartiality
• Can NOT collect new data
• Can NOT opine about the case at bar
  
• Prefer NOT funded by litigant to preserve privilege
  
• Can NOT provide any other service to any party to this matter during or after litigation

Forensic family system evaluation*

(also known as "child custody evaluation" or "parenting plan evaluation"; appointed by court; employed by parties)

• Requires court order
  
• Court must stipulate questions to be addressed by evaluation
  
• Court must stipulate if and how funding is divided between parties
  
• Review case documents
• Interview and/or observe and/or administer tests to evaluate all parties
• May include home visits, drug and alcohol testing
  
• Research relevant literature, ethics, guidelines, standards
• Provide the Court with a summary report including recommendations at the Court's request
  
• Mandated reporter

• Can NOT offer non-emergency recommendations during the pendency of the evaluation
  
• Will NOT engage in  non-emergency ex parte communications with counsel
• Can NOT provide any other service to any party to this matter during or after litigation
• Can NOT address non-emergency matters unless specified by Court order
• Will NOT generate individual psychological diagnoses