What is a psychosocial assessment in a custody case?
Short answer
It is a complete, impartial assessment of the family situation of a child whose custody or access is disputed, produced by a member of the Quebec order of psychologists or of social workers, on the order of a Superior Court judge. The assessor meets both parents and the children, then files a report with recommendations in the child's best interests — which the judge may follow in whole, in part, or not at all.
In detail
The assessment looks at the child's developmental needs, each parent's wishes, interests and abilities, the strengths and vulnerabilities of every family member, and the family interactions. It can also include verifying allegations of parental alienation.
The assessor holds several meetings: a joint meeting with both parents (process and consents), an individual meeting with each parent, a family meeting with each parent in the child's presence, and an individual meeting with each child concerned. They may also gather information from professionals involved and consult the relevant documents.
The participation of both parents and of all the children concerned is mandatory for the assessor to make recommendations: if one does not take part, only a summary report, without recommendations, can be written. The report informs the court — the judge may accept the recommendations in whole or in part, or reject them — and the assessor can be called to testify.
When ordered by a Superior Court judge and carried out by the public assessment service, the assessment is free, and an interpreter can be provided free of charge if needed.
What to document
The assessor consults the relevant documents: a dated, factual file — the children's actual schedule, exchanges kept or missed, communications, expenses — is exactly what you can present. Also note the date of each assessment meeting, what was asked, and what you handed over.
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Official sources
- CISSS du Bas-Saint-Laurent — Psychosocial assessment at the Superior Court (French)
- CISSS des Laurentides — Official leaflet on psychosocial assessments (PDF, French)
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What this page is not
This is general legal information about the law of Quebec and Canada, dated and sourced. It is not legal advice, not a strategy, and not a prediction about the outcome of a case. In Quebec, only lawyers and notaries may give legal advice (Act respecting the Barreau du Québec, ss. 128 and 133). Laws and amounts change: the official source always prevails over us.