Child custody/parenting plan evaluations are very complex and require a great deal of objectivity and expertise on the part of the evaluator. For this reason, child custody evaluators are required by state law to inform those they evaluate of their education, training, and experience. Please find this information below:
Claudia Moon-Perez, MS, LMFT
Education:
Claudia Moon Perez earned her Master of Science degree at California Baptist University, after completing course work in educational counseling at California State University, San Bernardino. She also attended California State University, Fullerton where she did coursework towards her pupil personnel credential. She earned her Bachelor of Arts at University of California, Riverside in Liberal Studies.
Training:
Ms. Moon Perez has over 200 hours of post graduate level continued education in conducting child custody evaluations, mediation, child abuse evaluation and treatment, and domestic violence. Her credentials exceed all state and local educational requirements for child custody evaluators. She commits to the California Court renewal requirements to remain current on yearly training as a child custody evaluator, specific to California Rule 5.225.
Experience:
Claudia Moon Perez has over 40 years of experience in the Psychological/Psychiatric field, and she has been a licensed therapist (MFC #31370) since 1994. In 2000, she along with her husband became co-owners of their private practice counseling center in Riverside, “Perez Moon Perez Psychotherapy and Family Court Services,” where they both continue to practice today. Prior to this, she was a partner in Axim Counseling Team in Riverside. She has also taught in both undergraduate and graduate level programs. She enjoys her psychotherapy work with individuals, families, couples, and children. She believes her experience enables her to focus on assessing and recommending the best solutions for families that experience restructuring, with an emphasis on what is best for the children and their adjustment.
Recommendations:
Any conclusions offered in the final report are based on multiple sources of information in which independently derived data have all pointed in the same direction or, conversely, sufficient corroborative data were not found. Based on the psychological assessment, interview data collected during the evaluation, the literature in the field, the documents and collateral information reviewed, and the evaluator’s experience, recommendations are respectfully submitted. The findings and recommendations in these evaluations are based on the information and data available at the time the evaluation is conducted.
Process:
Claudia Moon-Perez, LMFT conducts court ordered child custody evaluations that all follow the same relative processes, however based on needs of each individual case, the timeline may be fluid or differ in execution. That being said, each step must be completed before moving on to the next step. An example of the court ordered evaluation process is as follows:
1.) Both parties must complete a new client packet and review/ sign our professional fee schedule. A new client packet should be filled out for each parent (petitioner / respondent), not for the child/ren in the case.
2.) The responsible party must complete the retainer payment in full. Payment plans may be accepted on a case-by-case basis, however no further steps in the process will occur until the full retainer payment is completed.
3.) Parties must submit their FL-327 form that names Claudia Moon-Perez as the evaluator for your case. Once this is received our offices will submit an FL-326 form that formally accepts your case with the courts.
4.) Phone Intake Calls with our Evaluations Coordinator will be scheduled and completed. This call is usually 30-45 minutes long and goes over the basics of your case history, relational history, and child/ren’s history.
5.) Consents and Questionnaires will be emailed to each party. These attachments/linked documents are to be printed out and completed in your own handwriting. After completion, each party is to return to our offices via CERTIFIED MAIL, the only accepted method of return. Please return to our physical/mailing address: 6700 Indiana Avenue, Suite 110 Riverside, CA 92506. A due date, two weeks out from the date the Consents and Questionnaires are sent, will be set by the Evaluations Coordinator.
6.) Once both parties complete the above step, a Testing and Interview Schedule will be sent. It is important that parties thoroughly read and follow this schedule. Please note that once the testing and interview dates are set, no refunds will be available. Testing and Interview dates are based on the Evaluator’s clinical availability.
7.) Testing dates occur prior to the Interview dates and our Evaluations Coordinator will proctor your testing. Testing types and lengths vary depending on the type of your evaluation.
8.) Interviews occur as they are scheduled. Interviews always include: a 1.5-hour joint interview with both parties, a 1-hour individual interviews for each party, a 1-hour family observations for each party (includes all who live in the home), a 30-minute interviews with each child in the case, a 30-minute interviews with all significant others involved with the case (significant contact with child), and a 1-hour exit interviews with each party. Supplemental interviews can occur if the Evaluator determines this to be needed for a thorough investigation.
9.) Documentation Submissions are accepted at the Exit Interviews (last day of interviews). Documents are to be submitted in duplicate, in a binder, and must be indexed, and page numbered. Fees apply for document submissions greater than 50 pages in length.
9.) Home Visits/Background Checks will be completed if the Evaluator deems this to be necessary for your case. Home Visits/Background Checks can also be requested.
10.) Writing and Editing processes begin following completion of the above steps. The final evaluation report is submitted to the courts 10 days prior to your court date, so be sure to clearly communicate your court date with the Evaluations Coordinator. Both parties and/or their representation will also receive copies for the final report.
11.) After submission of the final report, our offices are unable to have further contact with either party and questions/concerns should be directed to your attorney.
Evaluation Types Offered:
FC 3111 Child Custody Evaluation
FC 3118 Child Sexual Abuse Evaluation
EC 730 Child Custody Evaluation
EC 730 Supplemental Child Custody Evaluation
EC 733 Child Custody Evaluation Review
Substance Abuse (Drug and Alcohol) Assessment
Parenting Plan Coordinator/ Special Master