Evaluation Pricing
Participating in a child custody and parenting time evaluation can seem overwhelming to parents, and a significant part of this is the cost of the process.
An evaluator is trained to incorporate legal, mental health, complex family dynamics and child development knowledge with the perspectives of both parents and the expressed and unexpressed needs of children, to assess areas of concern and to create a viable plan that maximizes the child's relationships with both parents while simultaneously emphasizing their health, safety and wellbeing.
In a majority of cases, the parties and their attorneys are able to avoid trial and instead use the information in the evaluation to craft a stipulated Judgment. The cost of the evaluation, therefore, is substantially less than each party paying attorneys to prepare and then represent them at trial, which often costs upwards of $10,000 - $20,000.
When the matter settles, you come out ahead financially, emotionally, and as co-parents agreeing to move forward in the way thought best for your child.
Professional Fees
1. Effective April 1, 2023, the rate for local custody and parenting time evaluations is $8,000. (There is an additional fee of $500 per child when there are more than three children per family.) A $1,000 non-refundable commitment fee is required, along with a copy of the court order and signed professional services agreement, in order to schedule the evaluation on my calendar. The remaining payment is due in full one week prior to the first appointment(s).
2. “Rush” or expedited evaluations with a guaranteed delivery date, completed in eight to ten weeks, require an additional $2000 and my approval before commencing. Less than eight weeks turnaround time can compromise the depth of the evaluation, so I require at least eight weeks to complete this process.
3. Payments of cash and personal, bank, and trust account checks are preferred. If a card payment is needed, please consult with me to make arrangements. A card processing fee may apply.
4. In order to secure time for expert witness testimony, I must be notified of the trial date no less than one month in advance, and a $1,500 professional fee is due a minimum of one week in advance of the court appearance. This fee is non-refundable inside one week (7 days) of trial. If your hearing is set over during the week preceding its original trial date, an additional $300.00 per hour will be charged for a second review of the file prior to the new hearing. The expert witness fee is equivalent to five hours of preparation, consultation, travel in the tri-county area and two hours of testimony/time at the courthouse. Additional time required beyond two hours on the day of trial will be billed to the client at $300.00 per hour and is due within 30 days of invoicing. An additional fee is assessed for travel to counties outside the tri-county area.
5. An additional fee is assessed for evaluations in jurisdictions outside the tri-county area, please contact me for rates at (503) 482-9689.
*Half day out of the office (4 hours) = $1,000 for consultation and special assignments.
*Full day out of the office (8 hours) = $2,000 for consultation and special assignments.
*Out of state and/or overnight travel cost varies with the availability of transportation and overnight accommodations.
6. When psychological testing or drug and alcohol testing is an assessed need, additional cost applies. Fees for testing are paid directly to the psychologist or lab administering the service.
7. Once an evaluation is calendared, the $1,000.00 non-refundable commitment fee is, under no circumstance, refundable.
8. Once an evaluation commences, the evaluation fee is not refundable.
9. All post-report services following an evaluation are billed at $300 per hour and due within 30 days of invoicing.
10. When an attorney of record requests a copy of the family file for trial preparation, a $125 (per file volume) is assessed for copying and postage. We will gladly provide a copy of the evaluation file upon receipt of written request, subpoena, and payment.
An evaluator is trained to incorporate legal, mental health, complex family dynamics and child development knowledge with the perspectives of both parents and the expressed and unexpressed needs of children, to assess areas of concern and to create a viable plan that maximizes the child's relationships with both parents while simultaneously emphasizing their health, safety and wellbeing.
In a majority of cases, the parties and their attorneys are able to avoid trial and instead use the information in the evaluation to craft a stipulated Judgment. The cost of the evaluation, therefore, is substantially less than each party paying attorneys to prepare and then represent them at trial, which often costs upwards of $10,000 - $20,000.
When the matter settles, you come out ahead financially, emotionally, and as co-parents agreeing to move forward in the way thought best for your child.
Professional Fees
1. Effective April 1, 2023, the rate for local custody and parenting time evaluations is $8,000. (There is an additional fee of $500 per child when there are more than three children per family.) A $1,000 non-refundable commitment fee is required, along with a copy of the court order and signed professional services agreement, in order to schedule the evaluation on my calendar. The remaining payment is due in full one week prior to the first appointment(s).
2. “Rush” or expedited evaluations with a guaranteed delivery date, completed in eight to ten weeks, require an additional $2000 and my approval before commencing. Less than eight weeks turnaround time can compromise the depth of the evaluation, so I require at least eight weeks to complete this process.
3. Payments of cash and personal, bank, and trust account checks are preferred. If a card payment is needed, please consult with me to make arrangements. A card processing fee may apply.
4. In order to secure time for expert witness testimony, I must be notified of the trial date no less than one month in advance, and a $1,500 professional fee is due a minimum of one week in advance of the court appearance. This fee is non-refundable inside one week (7 days) of trial. If your hearing is set over during the week preceding its original trial date, an additional $300.00 per hour will be charged for a second review of the file prior to the new hearing. The expert witness fee is equivalent to five hours of preparation, consultation, travel in the tri-county area and two hours of testimony/time at the courthouse. Additional time required beyond two hours on the day of trial will be billed to the client at $300.00 per hour and is due within 30 days of invoicing. An additional fee is assessed for travel to counties outside the tri-county area.
5. An additional fee is assessed for evaluations in jurisdictions outside the tri-county area, please contact me for rates at (503) 482-9689.
*Half day out of the office (4 hours) = $1,000 for consultation and special assignments.
*Full day out of the office (8 hours) = $2,000 for consultation and special assignments.
*Out of state and/or overnight travel cost varies with the availability of transportation and overnight accommodations.
6. When psychological testing or drug and alcohol testing is an assessed need, additional cost applies. Fees for testing are paid directly to the psychologist or lab administering the service.
7. Once an evaluation is calendared, the $1,000.00 non-refundable commitment fee is, under no circumstance, refundable.
8. Once an evaluation commences, the evaluation fee is not refundable.
9. All post-report services following an evaluation are billed at $300 per hour and due within 30 days of invoicing.
10. When an attorney of record requests a copy of the family file for trial preparation, a $125 (per file volume) is assessed for copying and postage. We will gladly provide a copy of the evaluation file upon receipt of written request, subpoena, and payment.