The questions in a 730 evaluation fall into four main areas: your background and parenting history, your mental health and substance use, your view of the other parent and how you co-parent, and — asked separately of your child — what life is like in each home. A 730 evaluation is a California court-ordered custody assessment named for Evidence Code Section 730, and the evaluator, usually a licensed psychologist, uses interviews, psychological testing, home observation, and third-party contacts to build a picture of each parent.1California Legislative Information. California Code Evidence Code 730 – Appointment of Expert2California Courts. Child Custody Evaluations Knowing the categories of questions ahead of time lets you answer honestly and consistently, which is what evaluators are actually measuring.
Questions About Your Background and Parenting
Expect a long conversation about who you are and how you parent day to day. The evaluator is guided by the factors California law requires courts to weigh in custody decisions: the child’s health, safety, and welfare, each parent’s level of contact with the child, and any history of substance abuse.3California Legislative Information. California Code Family Code 3011 – Best Interest of Child
Questions typically cover:
- How you were raised, your relationship with your own parents, and whether you experienced abuse, neglect, or family instability as a child. Parenting patterns often repeat across generations, and evaluators know that.
- Who actually handles school drop-offs, meals, bedtime, homework, and extracurricular activities. The evaluator wants to identify who is doing the day-to-day work of raising the child.
- How you set limits and respond when your child misbehaves. Evaluators look for approaches that are consistent and age-appropriate, not punitive or erratic.
- Your work schedule, financial stability, and whether your living situation fits the child’s needs.
- Any arrests, convictions, involvement with child protective services, or restraining orders.
The evaluator will already have court records, police reports, and reports from any anger management or parenting classes you’ve taken.2California Courts. Child Custody Evaluations Answers that contradict the paper trail raise flags. Cases quietly fall apart for some parents not because their answers are wrong, but because they shade the truth on things the evaluator can independently verify.
Questions About Mental Health and Substance Use
Your emotional functioning shapes the home your child lives in, so the evaluator asks about it directly. Expect questions about any history of psychological conditions, past therapy, current medications, and hospitalizations for mental or emotional difficulties. You’ll also be asked whether anyone in your extended family has dealt with serious mental health issues.
The questions extend beyond clinical history. How do you manage stress? How do you handle conflict? How are you coping with the custody dispute itself? A parent who can describe concrete strategies for staying steady presents differently from one who falls apart under pressure or copes through alcohol and isolation.
California law specifically requires courts to consider habitual substance abuse by either parent.3California Legislative Information. California Code Family Code 3011 – Best Interest of Child The evaluator will ask directly about your use of alcohol, recreational drugs, and prescription medications, and may ask for independent corroboration such as records from treatment programs or medical providers.
One thing to keep in mind: licensed evaluators are mandated reporters under California law, so if something you say suggests a risk to a child’s safety, they are legally required to report it regardless of the confidentiality that otherwise applies to the process.4California Legislative Information. California Code Penal Code 11165.7 – Mandated Reporter Definition
Questions About the Other Parent and Co-Parenting
How you talk about your child’s other parent reveals more than most parents realize. Expect questions like: What attracted you to the other parent? What do you dislike about them? How did you handle disagreements during the relationship? Who filed for divorce, and why?
The evaluator is testing two things. First, can you separate your feelings about your ex from your child’s relationship with them? A parent who can acknowledge the other parent’s strengths while honestly identifying concerns comes across as more credible than one who has nothing good to say. Second, can you cooperate on shared decisions about medical care, schooling, and scheduling without turning routine matters into battles?
You’ll be asked whether you have concerns about the other parent’s alcohol or drug use, potential for violence, emotional abuse of the child, or risk of taking the child without permission. The follow-up is revealing: Is the other parent likely to raise any of these same concerns about you? Willingness to acknowledge your own vulnerabilities signals self-awareness.
Courts must consider any history of abuse by a parent against the child, the other parent, or a current partner.3California Legislative Information. California Code Family Code 3011 – Best Interest of Child If there are allegations of domestic violence, you can request separate interviews so you are not in the same room as the other parent during the evaluation.2California Courts. Child Custody Evaluations Cases involving serious allegations of child abuse require additional steps, including consultation with child welfare services and law enforcement.5California Legislative Information. California Code Family Code 3118 – Custody Evaluation for Child Sexual Abuse Allegations
What Your Child Will Be Asked
The evaluator meets with your child separately, and the approach depends on age. Younger children are usually assessed through play and observation rather than direct questioning. Older children get more conversational interviews: How do you feel about spending time with each parent? What do you like or dislike about each home? Who helps you with homework or takes you to activities?
California law requires the court to consider a child’s wishes when the child is old enough to form an intelligent preference.6California Legislative Information. California Code Family Code 3042 – Child Addressing the Court Regarding Custody or Visitation Children 14 and older have the right to speak directly to the judge about custody, though the court can decline if it would not be in the child’s best interest. Younger children may also address the court if the judge determines it’s appropriate. The evaluator’s interview captures the child’s preferences and relays them in the report.
Coaching your child on what to say is one of the fastest ways to damage your credibility. Evaluators are trained to detect rehearsed or unnatural responses, and a child who sounds like they are repeating a script stands out immediately.
What Collateral Contacts Add
The evaluator doesn’t rely only on what you and the other parent say. Part of the investigation involves contacting adults who know your child well, including teachers, daycare providers, doctors, and other adults living in your household.2California Courts. Child Custody Evaluations The evaluator also reviews your child’s school and health records, including medical, dental, and mental health records.
Teachers are especially useful because they see your child for extended periods and observe how each parent engages with school life: who comes to conferences, who responds to communications, who helps with assignments. Relatives, neighbors, and family friends may also be contacted.
These contacts operate as a reality check on your interview. When a parent claims to be deeply involved in daily life, the evaluator can verify that by asking the pediatrician or the child’s teacher. Inconsistencies between what you report and what collateral sources describe weaken your position.
Psychological Testing
Most 730 evaluations include standardized psychological tests. The most commonly used is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2), which assesses personality traits and screens for psychological conditions.7NCBI Bookshelf. Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory The Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory (MCMI) is another tool evaluators frequently use. Before administering any test, the evaluator must explain the role the results will play in the overall evaluation.8Judicial Branch of California. California Rules of Court – Rule 5.220 Court-Ordered Child Custody Evaluations
You can’t study for these, and trying to game them usually backfires. The MMPI-2 includes built-in validity scales designed to catch people who present themselves in an unrealistically positive light. Research estimates that defensive responding affects 30 to 40 percent of custody evaluations.9PubMed Central. A Meta-Analytic Review of the MMPI Validity Scales and Indexes to Detect Defensiveness in Custody Evaluations Multiple overlapping scales flag people who deny common human flaws, endorse unrealistically positive self-descriptions, or answer inconsistently.
Evaluators distinguish two patterns. Some parents consciously try to look good, which is deliberate impression management. Others genuinely believe the overly positive picture they present, which is self-deception. Both patterns show up in the results, and both undermine the value of the evaluation. Straightforward honesty, even about your shortcomings, is the productive approach.
What the Evaluator Watches During Observation
Interviews aren’t the only setting where you’ll be assessed. During observational sessions, the evaluator watches you interact with your child in real time, sometimes at home and sometimes in a neutral office. The evaluator looks for warmth, attentiveness, and how naturally you engage during play, conversation, and moments that call for redirection or discipline.
Subtle cues matter more than grand gestures. Does the child gravitate toward you or seem tense? Do you get down to the child’s eye level, or stay on your phone? How do you respond when the child gets frustrated or tests a limit? Body language and tone of voice count alongside the content of what you say. Multiple sessions are common, partly because a single observation on a stressful day can be misleading.
How to Answer the Questions Well
Preparation is less about rehearsing the right answers and more about presenting an honest, organized picture of your parenting.
- Gather records in advance. Medical records, school reports, extracurricular schedules, communication logs with the other parent, and relevant court documents. Having them ready signals cooperation.
- Be honest about your weaknesses. Every parent has them. Acknowledging areas where you could improve builds credibility, and the psychological tests will flag flawless self-presentation anyway.
- Keep the focus on your child. Every answer should tie back to your child’s needs. Parents who spend the interview attacking the other parent make a weaker impression than those who can articulate what their child needs and how they will provide it.
- Don’t coach your child. The attempt itself suggests you prioritize winning over your child’s genuine experience.
- Cooperate fully. The evaluator’s report must note any limitations caused by a parent’s failure to cooperate. Missing appointments, withholding records, or being difficult during interviews creates a documented problem the judge will read.8Judicial Branch of California. California Rules of Court – Rule 5.220 Court-Ordered Child Custody Evaluations
Working with an experienced family law attorney throughout the process is the single most effective form of preparation. Your attorney can walk you through what to expect at each stage, flag any concerns about the evaluator’s approach, and prepare you for cross-examination if the report goes to hearing.