Social Investigation

Social Investigations, previously known as custody evaluations, are conducted to evaluate each parent’s capacity to support and prioritize their children’s best interests.

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Healing Bonds. Restoring Trust. Rebuilding Family.

"Every child deserves a loving, safe environment where they can thrive, but how do we ensure parents are truly equipped to provide that? Social investigations go beyond the surface to protect a child's future by discovering the parent's ability to care, nurture, and protect."



"A social investigation gives children a voice when families are in conflict, helping the court see beyond the surface to what truly supports a child’s well-being and future."

A social investigation in Florida is a court-ordered assessment used primarily in family law cases to help the court determine what is in the best interests of a child. It is conducted by a licensed mental health professional, social worker, or other qualified individual approved by the court.


Under Florida Statute §61.20, social investigations are commonly ordered in custody (time-sharing) disputes or other cases involving parental responsibility.


Purpose of a Florida Social Investigation


The goal is to provide the court with a comprehensive understanding of the family dynamics, parenting capabilities, and overall home environment in order to make informed decisions about child custody, visitation, or guardianship.


What’s Included in a Florida Social Investigation?

1. Home Environment Assessment

  • Evaluation of each parent’s living conditions.
  • Assessment of the home's safety, cleanliness, and adequacy for raising children.
  • Observation of the child’s physical surroundings and personal space.


2. Personal Interviews

  • Parents or guardians: Interviews focus on parenting styles, discipline practices, lifestyle, and history.
  • Children (if age-appropriate): To understand their wishes, emotional needs, and comfort in each home.
  • Collateral contacts: Teachers, family members, neighbors, counselors, and others with insight into the child’s well-being.


3. Review of Records

  • School performance and attendance.
  • Medical and psychological records.
  • Past or current involvement with the Department of Children and Families (DCF), law enforcement, or the court system.


4. Parent-Child Interactions

  • Observations of how the child interacts with each parent.
  • Quality of the emotional bond, responsiveness, communication, and discipline.


5. Assessment of Risk Factors

  • Identification of potential concerns such as substance abuse, mental health issues, domestic violence, or neglect.
  • Consideration of each parent’s support network and ability to provide a stable environment.


6. Final Report and Recommendations

  • The investigator prepares a formal report submitted to the court.
  • The report includes a summary of findings, observations, and recommendations for time-sharing, parental responsibility, and any necessary services (e.g., counseling, parenting classes).


Who Can Conduct a Social Investigation in Florida?

Per Florida law, social investigations must be conducted by:

  • Licensed mental health professionals,
  • Licensed clinical social workers,
  • Qualified psychologists, or
  • Court-approved professionals with relevant experience.


Getting a divorce is hard and trying to navigate custody concerns can be traumatic at times. Let us walk alongside of you and provide a relational and unbiased approach to gathering the necessary information and assessments. We will work to make it as simple as possible but as through as it needs to be giving each partner the chance to be heard and seen while completing the assessments.

Other Court Ordered Services Available:

Reunification Therapy

Mental Health Testing and Recommendations

Subject Matter Expert

Private High Conflict/Emotional Regulation Parenting Classes

Confidentiality and Court Use

The report is considered confidential and is only accessible to the parties involved, their attorneys, and the judge. It is used to guide the court’s decisions but does not replace formal testimony.



Expert Testimony and Deposition Fees

Expert testimony: Social Investigation fees do not include depositions or expert witness testimony. Therapist may not be called as a percipient witness, only as an expert witness. Please call our office for fees. Fees will apply if Therapist testifies for one minute, 7 hours, or not at all. Fees must be paid at least 10 business days before the court date. The fees are not refundable if therapist receives less than 72 hours' notice to cancel or change the dates of testimony. If therapist must travel more than one hour from the courthouse, there will be an additional travel fee. For depositions, the same terms of payment and refund apply.