by Ho Shee Wai
Director / Registered Psychologist
What Happens in a Child Custody Evaluation in Singapore? What Parents Should Expect
A child custody evaluation can feel intimidating, particularly when you do not know what the psychologist is looking for or how your child will be involved. Psychologist Ho Shee Wai explains what custody evaluations in Singapore are designed to assess, what parents and children can expect, and how to prepare without trying to influence the outcome.
Being told that a child custody evaluation may be needed can feel intimidating. Parents often wonder what the psychologist is looking for, whether their child will be interviewed, what psychological tests may be used, and perhaps most importantly, whether the evaluator is deciding who is the “better parent”.
A custody evaluation is not therapy. It is also not an assessment designed to help one parent build a case against the other.
The evaluator’s role is to remain impartial and focus on the child’s needs and welfare. The purpose is not to decide which parent is nicer, more likeable or more convincing. It is to provide independent psychological information that can assist the Court in understanding the child and the parenting arrangements that may best meet the child’s needs.
That distinction is important.
What Is a Child Custody Evaluation Actually For?
A custody evaluation is not conducted for either parent.
Its purpose is to assist the Court by providing relevant psychological information about the child’s needs, the family relationships and the parenting arrangements being considered.
Even where one parent initially proposes an expert or is responsible for paying the psychologist’s fees, the psychologist’s responsibility is not to advocate for that parent. An expert’s duty is to provide an independent professional opinion within the scope of the assessment.
There is therefore no promised outcome.
A proper custody evaluation uses multiple sources of information rather than relying solely on what either parent says. The psychologist may consider interviews, behavioural observations, psychological assessment, relevant documents and information from people who know the child or family.
The aim is to develop as complete and balanced a picture as reasonably possible.
Who Can Request or Order a Child Custody Evaluation?
Parents may encounter custody evaluations in different ways.
The Family Justice Courts may direct that a child custody evaluation report be prepared as part of proceedings concerning custody, care and control or access.
Parents or their lawyers may also consider obtaining independent expert evidence. However, where court proceedings concern the welfare or custody of a child, a party cannot simply have the child examined or assessed by a psychologist or other expert for the purpose of preparing expert evidence without the Court’s approval.
The current Family Justice rules also encourage the parties to agree on a common expert where possible. If they are unable to agree, the Court may appoint an expert.
This is important because a custody evaluation is not simply another psychological assessment. It is forensic in purpose: the assessment should address questions relevant to the child’s welfare and the issues before the Court.
Your family lawyer is the appropriate person to advise you about the legal process and whether Court approval or directions are required in your particular case.
What Does a Custody Evaluator Look At?
The question is not simply:
“Which parent is better?”
Children do not exist in isolation from their relationships, developmental needs and family environment. A custody evaluator may therefore consider areas such as:
the child’s developmental, psychological and emotional needs;
the child’s relationship with each parent;
caregiving history and current parenting arrangements;
each parent’s understanding of and ability to respond to the child’s needs;
the impact of parental conflict on the child;
stability and continuity in the child’s life;
the role of other significant caregivers;
school, health or developmental information where relevant;
the child’s views, taking into account their age and developmental maturity; and
specific concerns or questions raised in the proceedings.
Singapore courts distinguish between custody, care and control and access.
Custody generally concerns responsibility for major decisions in a child’s life, such as significant education and healthcare decisions. Care and control concerns the child’s day-to-day care and where the child primarily lives. Access concerns the time the child spends with the other parent.
Across these decisions, the welfare of the child remains the paramount consideration.
What Happens During a Custody Evaluation?
There is no single assessment procedure that is suitable for every family.
The methods used should depend on the questions being assessed, the age and developmental level of the child, the concerns raised and the circumstances of the family.
A comprehensive custody and access assessment may include:
separate interviews with each parent;
interviews with the child or children where developmentally appropriate;
psychological assessment of parents and/or children where relevant;
observation of interactions between the child and each parent;
information from teachers, healthcare professionals, family members or other relevant collateral contacts;
review of relevant Court documents, school records, medical information and other documentation; and
preparation of a written psychological report.
Other methods may be considered where they are relevant to the questions requiring assessment. No single interview, observation or psychological test should determine a custody recommendation by itself.
The value of a multi-method assessment is that information can be considered across different sources rather than accepting any one account automatically as fact.
Will My Child Be Asked to Choose Between Parents?
A custody evaluation should not reduce the child’s role to simply answering:
“Which parent do you want to live with?”
Children’s views can be important, but they need to be understood in context.
Depending on the child’s age and maturity, a psychologist may explore the child’s experiences with each parent, daily routines, relationships, worries, preferences and understanding of the family situation.
Where a child expresses a preference, the psychologist may also need to understand why.
A five-year-old, a twelve-year-old and a seventeen-year-old will naturally understand and express family relationships differently. The significance given to a child’s views therefore depends partly on the child’s developmental level and the wider information available.
The goal is to understand the child—not to place responsibility for the final decision on them.
Should I Prepare My Child for the Evaluation?
Yes, but prepare your child for what will happen, not what to say.
You can explain in simple, age-appropriate language that they will be meeting a psychologist whose job is to understand them and their family.
Let your child know that:
they can answer questions honestly;
they do not need to choose sides;
it is okay to have positive and negative feelings about both parents;
they do not have to remember a particular version of events; and
they should simply speak about what they know and experience.
Avoid rehearsing answers with your child or telling them what outcome the family “needs”.
It is also better not to question the child extensively afterwards about what they told the psychologist.
Children can already feel caught between parents during a difficult separation. Asking them to carry an adult case into the assessment adds another burden they should not have to manage.
What Should Parents Bring or Prepare?
Preparing for a custody evaluation is not about learning how to “perform well”.
The most helpful preparation is usually accurate, organised information.
Depending on what the evaluator requests, this may include:
relevant Court documents;
an accurate chronology of important events;
school or medical records where relevant;
details of teachers, doctors or other professionals involved with the child;
information about significant caregivers;
documents relevant to specific concerns being assessed; and
clear examples illustrating concerns about the child or parenting arrangements.
Try to separate observations and facts from conclusions about the other parent’s character.
For example:
“My child cried for approximately 30 minutes after the last three handovers”
provides more useful information than:
“My ex is emotionally damaging our child.”
The evaluator’s role is to assess the information—not simply adopt either parent’s interpretation of it.
What If I Think the Other Parent Is Lying?
This is one of the most common concerns parents have in highly conflicted cases.
A custody evaluation should not rely solely on two competing parental accounts.
Where appropriate, the psychologist may compare information across:
the parents’ accounts;
the child’s account;
psychological assessment;
direct behavioural observations;
relevant documents;
school or medical information; and
collateral sources who have meaningful knowledge of the child or family.
This does not mean that every allegation can be independently proven or disproven.
It does mean that information can be considered according to its source, consistency, relevance and how well it fits with the wider body of available information.
An allegation made by either parent should not automatically be treated as an established fact simply because it has been reported.
How Long Does a Child Custody Assessment Take?
There is no universal timeframe because the complexity of families and the questions requiring assessment vary.
At The Counselling Place, a custody and access assessment generally takes approximately 4–8 weeks, depending on factors such as the complexity of the case, availability of participants and collateral contacts, documentation requiring review and whether additional assessment is required.
More complex cases may require more time.
Is a Custody Evaluator My Therapist?
No.
The psychologist conducting the custody evaluation may also be qualified to provide psychological therapy in other professional settings, but the relationship during a custody evaluation is different.
The assessment is conducted for a forensic rather than therapeutic purpose.
This means, among other things, that:
the psychologist is not acting as either parent’s therapist;
the psychologist does not advocate for either parent;
information may form part of the assessment report;
confidentiality is different from an ordinary therapy relationship; and
the psychologist’s responsibility is to provide an impartial professional opinion within the scope of the evaluation.
Parents should therefore understand the purpose and limits of confidentiality before participating in the assessment.
Can a Psychologist Recommend Who Should Have Custody, Care and Control or Access?
A psychologist may provide professional findings and recommendations where these fall within the questions the psychologist has been asked to assess.
The psychologist does not make the legal decision.
The ultimate decision about custody, care and control and access remains with the Court.
The purpose of psychological evidence is to assist the Court by providing specialised information about the child, the parents, family relationships and relevant psychological or developmental issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between custody, care and control, and access?
In Singapore, custody generally concerns major decisions affecting a child, such as significant healthcare and education matters.
Care and control concerns the child’s day-to-day care and generally determines which parent the child primarily lives with.
Access refers to the arrangements for the child to spend time with the other parent.
Can I arrange a custody evaluation privately in Singapore?
You may contact an independent psychologist to discuss whether an assessment is appropriate. However, if there are ongoing Court proceedings concerning the welfare or custody of a child, a child should not be examined or assessed for the purpose of preparing expert evidence without the required Court approval.
The Court may also give directions regarding the expert to be appointed and the questions the expert is asked to address.
Speak with your family lawyer before arranging an assessment intended for use in legal proceedings.
Does my child have to be interviewed?
Not every assessment is identical.
Whether and how a child is interviewed depends on factors including the child’s age and developmental level, the questions being assessed and the directions or scope of the evaluation.
Where children are interviewed, the method should be developmentally appropriate.
What psychological tests are used in custody evaluations?
There is no single psychological test that determines who should have custody or care and control.
Where psychological testing is relevant, the psychologist selects assessment tools according to the referral questions, the individuals being assessed and the information required.
Psychological test results should be interpreted alongside interviews, observations, collateral information and documentation rather than in isolation.
Can the evaluator speak to my child’s teacher, doctor or therapist?
Relevant professionals may sometimes provide useful information about a child’s functioning outside the parental dispute.
Teachers, healthcare professionals, therapists or other people who know the child may therefore be contacted where their information is relevant and the appropriate consent or authority is in place.
Can I refuse a custody evaluation?
If the Court has directed an assessment, you should speak with your lawyer about your obligations and any concerns you have.
Do not assume that a Court-directed assessment is optional simply because you disagree with it.
How much does a custody and access assessment cost?
The Counselling Place currently lists its custody and access assessment fee at S$8,000.
Additional charges may apply for matters such as report submission, additional testing or Court testimony. Please refer to the current Custody and Access Assessment service page for the latest fees and details.
How long does a custody and access assessment take?
At The Counselling Place, the assessment generally takes approximately 4–8 weeks, depending on the complexity of the matter and the information required.
Need an Independent Custody and Access Assessment in Singapore?
The Counselling Place provides custody and access assessments conducted by psychologists using a multi-method approach that may include interviews, psychological assessment, behavioural observation, collateral information and review of relevant documentation.
The role of the psychologist is impartial and child-focused. The assessment is not intended to advocate for either parent.
Where proceedings are already before the Family Justice Courts, parents and lawyers should ensure that the appropriate Court approval or directions have been obtained before arranging an expert assessment involving a child.
For more information about the process, current fees and assessment enquiries, visit our Custody and Access Assessment page.