Custody Evaluation

(A) Order Upon motion of a party, guardian ad litem, counsel for a child, or on its own initiative, a court of common pleas may order a custody evaluation to aid the court in evaluating the best interest of a child in a contested custody or parenting visitation case. (B) Description of custody evaluation Unless contraindicated in the judgment of the custody evaluator or limited by the order of appointment, a custody evaluation shall include but is not limited to all of the following: Information obtained through interviews, joint or individual, with each (1) party seeking custody or parenting visitation; (2) Information obtained through interviews with each child; Information obtained through interviews with stepparents, significant (3) others, or any other adult residing in the home; Information obtained through interviews with step or half siblings residing (4) in the home; (5) Information obtained from child care providers, schools, counselors, hospitals, medical professionals, social service agencies, guardians ad litem, and law enforcement agencies; Information from home visits or observations of each child with the (6) appropriate adults involved; (7) Results of clinical tests administered; History of child abuse, domestic violence, substance abuse, psychiatric (8) illness, and involvement with the legal system; (9) Investigation into any other relevant information about the child’s needs.