Parenting Plan (Child Custody) Evaluations for Indiana Family Courts
Thorough, balanced evaluations that help courts and families reach parenting arrangements built around the child's best interests.
When parents cannot agree on how to share the care of their children, the court must decide. A parenting plan evaluation gives the court what it often lacks: an independent, evidence-based picture of each parent, each child, and the relationships between them.
Dr. David Lombard, PhD, is a licensed Indiana psychologist with more than 30 years of clinical and forensic experience. He conducts parenting plan evaluations (traditionally called child custody evaluations) for family courts, attorneys, and guardians ad litem throughout Indiana. Each evaluation is designed to answer the specific questions the court has asked, and every opinion is tied to the data that supports it.
These cases come at one of the hardest seasons a family will face. Dr. Lombard approaches every family with the same steady commitment: to listen carefully, to treat each person with dignity, and to keep the child's well-being at the center of the work.
What the Evaluation Addresses
Indiana courts decide custody according to the best interests of the child, with no presumption favoring either parent (IC 31-17-2-8). A parenting plan evaluation gathers information on the factors the statute directs the court to consider, including:
The wishes of each parent, and the wishes of the child, which carry more weight when the child is at least 14 years old.
The child's relationship with each parent, with siblings, and with others who significantly affect the child.
The child's adjustment to home, school, and community.
The mental and physical health of everyone involved.
Any evidence of a pattern of domestic or family violence.
Within that framework, the evaluation examines each parent's capacity to meet the child's particular needs, each parent's willingness to support the child's relationship with the other parent, and the practical question of which decision-making and parenting time arrangements are most likely to serve this child well. When the court's question is narrower, such as a specific concern about one parent's fitness, the evaluation is scoped to that question.
How an Evaluation Is Requested
In Indiana custody proceedings, when a parent or the child's custodian requests it, the court may order an investigation and report concerning the child's custodial arrangements (IC 31-17-2-12). Parenting plan evaluations typically begin in one of three ways:
Court appointment. The judge orders an evaluation and appoints Dr. Lombard as a neutral evaluator for the court.
Agreed referral. Both parties, through counsel, agree to retain Dr. Lombard, and the agreement is entered as a court order.
Attorney consultation. An attorney asks for help understanding the evaluation process, or for a review of another evaluator's report. This is a separate consulting role, and Dr. Lombard does not serve as both consultant and evaluator in the same case.
A court order that names the evaluator, defines the questions to be answered, and addresses payment helps every evaluation begin on a clear footing. Dr. Lombard is glad to discuss suggested order language with the court or counsel.
The Evaluation Process
Consistent with the APA Guidelines for Child Custody Evaluations in Family Law Proceedings (2022), Dr. Lombard gathers information through multiple methods and sources, so that no single interview or test result carries more weight than it should.
Intake and informed consent. Each parent learns in plain language how the evaluation works, what it will and will not address, and who will receive the report.
Parent interviews. Each parent meets with Dr. Lombard individually, usually more than once, to discuss the child's history, needs, and daily care.
Psychological testing, where indicated. Standardized measures are used when they are relevant to the questions before the court, and interpreted with appropriate caution.
Parent and child observations. Dr. Lombard observes each parent with the child, in the office or the home, to see the relationship as it actually functions.
Child interviews. Children are interviewed in a developmentally appropriate way. They are never asked to choose between their parents.
Records and collateral sources. School, medical, counseling, and court records are reviewed, and relevant third parties such as teachers or pediatricians may be contacted.
Written report. The report explains what was learned, how it was learned, and how the findings bear on the court's questions. Its limitations are stated plainly.
Testimony, if needed. Dr. Lombard is available to testify regarding the evaluation and its findings.
Standards and Neutrality
Every evaluation follows the APA Ethics Code, the APA Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychology, the APA Guidelines for Child Custody Evaluations in Family Law Proceedings, and the AFCC Guidelines for Parenting Plan Evaluations in Family Law Cases (2022).
Dr. Lombard's role is that of an impartial evaluator, not an advocate for either parent. He does not provide therapy, counseling, or pastoral care to any party or child in a case he is evaluating, and he does not accept an evaluation role for anyone he has previously treated. Both parents receive the same procedures, the same opportunities to share information, and the same respect.
When a Narrower Evaluation Fits Better
Not every dispute requires a full parenting plan evaluation. When decision-making authority is settled and only the parenting time schedule is contested, a Parenting Time Evaluation may answer the court's question more efficiently, in less time and at lower cost. These evaluations are informed by the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines and tailored to the needs of the individual child.
Learn more about Parenting Time Evaluations (link to be added once that page is built).
For Judges, Attorneys, and Guardians ad Litem
Dr. Lombard accepts court appointments and agreed attorney referrals for parenting plan evaluations in all Indiana counties, with a particular focus on northeast Indiana. Court staff and counsel are welcome to contact the office to:
Confirm availability and current scheduling.
Request Dr. Lombard's CV.
Discuss the questions a proposed evaluation should address.
Review suggested language for an order of appointment.
Discuss a Case → Contact Us
Every family that comes before the court deserves to be heard carefully and fairly. That is the standard this practice holds itself to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a parenting plan evaluation the same as a child custody evaluation? Yes. In 2022 the Association of Family and Conciliation Courts adopted the term "parenting plan evaluation" to reflect shared parenting responsibility, while the APA's guidelines retain the familiar "child custody" wording. Both terms describe the same kind of evaluation.
Who can request an evaluation? In Indiana, a parent or the child's custodian may ask the court to order one, and the judge decides whether to do so. Attorneys for both parties may also agree to a joint referral, which is then entered as a court order.
How long does an evaluation take? Most evaluations are completed in about [X to Y] weeks from the signed order and retainer. The timeline depends on the number of family members involved, the volume of records, and how promptly appointments and releases are completed.
How are fees handled? Evaluations are conducted on a retainer basis of [amount or range]. The court order or the parties' agreement usually specifies how the cost is divided between the parents.
Will my child be asked to choose between us? No. Children are interviewed in ways suited to their age and development, and they are never asked to decide where they will live. Their perspective is one important source of information among many.
Can my own therapist or my child's counselor do the evaluation instead? Generally, no. A treating therapist's role is to support a client, while an evaluator's role is to remain impartial toward everyone. Professional guidelines caution against combining the two roles in the same case.
References
American Psychological Association. (2017). Ethical principles of psychologists and code of conduct. apa.org/ethics/code
American Psychological Association. (2013). Specialty guidelines for forensic psychology. apa.org/practice/guidelines/forensic-psychology
American Psychological Association. (2022). Guidelines for child custody evaluations in family law proceedings. apa.org (PDF)
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts. (2022). Guidelines for parenting plan evaluations in family law cases. afccnet.org (PDF)
Indiana Code 31-17-2-8 (custody order; best interests factors) and 31-17-2-12 (investigation and report). Justia: IC 31-17-2
Indiana Supreme Court. Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines. in.gov/judiciary/rules/parenting