Karen van Beyer, PhD, LCSW

Divorcing couples may not be able to resolve their differences without resorting to the legal system. Child custody evaluators are appointed by the courts in order to provide the expertise needed to assist in making decisions that protect children as parents are going through a high conflict legal process.

The role of an evaluator is to 1) provide a custody evaluation report that presents relevant information to the court in a clear, understandable fashion, 2) make recommendations based on the information collected, and 3) protect the best interest of the child.

In Louisiana, there is no legislation that specifies the training that a custody evaluator must have. There are, however, standards that are published by each of the mental health professional associations. Dr. van Beyer is one of the authors of the Standards for Custody Evaluation published by the Louisiana Board of Social Work Examiners. She has taught courses in custody evaluation on a state and national level as well as at both of the medical schools in Louisiana. Mental health professionals trained at the Clinic have has a year long course that includes didactics, supervision of cases and case presentations at the multidisciplinary weekly clinic meeting. 

Dr. van Beyer is appointed to preform custody evaluations by the courts of Jefferson, Orleans, St. Tammany, and other parishes.