Child custody is a difficult and sensitive issue. During conflicts, people undergo multiple interviews, background checks, and other privacy-invading questions. Child custody evaluations are necessary when parents divorce. All of this is done in order to obtain custody of one or more children. The children do not have to be the biological children of the parents to be able to fight for custody of the child. In the evaluations, several factors are taken into account. Throughout the process, the most important aspect of the outcome of the evaluations is that the best interests of the child are always the primary factor. Child custody evaluations attempt to investigate and find the best situation for the child between the parties in a custody dispute. Child custody evaluations cover multiple issues such as custody, maintenance, support, evaluation, visitation, relocation, and termination of parental rights. There are several forms of custody that can result from a child custody evaluation. The first is physical custody, defined as “the time a child spends with each parent, if the parents share physical custody” (Costanzo and Krauss, 2012). Another form of custody is legal custody, which gives the parent the power to decide on certain influential factors in the child's life (Costanzo and Krauss, 2012). Joint legal custody is also an option. Another form of custody is sole custody, defined as “one parent has legal and physical custody while the other has generally agreed to certain rights to visit the child at regular intervals” (Costanzo & Krauss, 2012) . “Most custody decisions – approximately 90% – are made without recourse to litigation” (Costanzo & Krauss, 2012). “Estimates of actual custody arrangements are in the middle of paper…which can be decided by the court in order to place the child in the best possible position.” The psychologist performs multiple tests and processes on the parents and children to obtain as much information as possible in order to give the best possible recommendation to the courts regarding the child. Laws have evolved over time to best adapt to current social standards. The child custody evaluation has one primary goal throughout the process, which is to determine the best interests of the child and place the child in the best situation available. Works Cited Costanzo, Mark and Daniel Krauss. Forensic and legal psychology: psychological science applied to law. New York, NY: Worth Publishers, 2012. Print. “Guidelines for Child Custody Evaluations in Family Law Proceedings.” American psychologist. 65 ed. 2010. APA.org. Internet. November 17. 2013.