Bassos Consulting Group · Expert Witness Resource
Evaluating the Child in Family Law Proceedings
A Comprehensive Guide to Assessments, Diagnoses, and the Role of Behavioral Science
In high-conflict time-sharing cases, the difference between a strong and weak legal argument often comes down to how well the child is understood. This 8-page reference gives family law attorneys, guardians ad litem, and judicial officers a clear map of the evaluations that matter — who administers them, what they measure, and how they carry weight in court.
Format: PDF
Length: 8 pages
Audience: Family law attorneys, GALs, judicial officers
Focus: Autism, developmental & behavioral needs
Who this guide is for
- Family law attorneys handling cases involving children with ASD, developmental disabilities, or behavioral disorders
- Guardians ad litem evaluating assessment reports and expert testimony
- Judicial officers weighing placement, time-sharing, and service disputes
- Mediators and collaborative professionals building informed parenting plans
What’s inside
Comprehensive Assessment Reference TableEvery major evaluation type — who administers, what it measures, key outputs, and relevance in family law.
Diagnostic & Medical EvaluationsAutism diagnostic, developmental pediatric, neuropsychological, and psychiatric evaluations.
Psychological AssessmentsComprehensive, psychoeducational, custody, trauma, and adaptive behavior assessments.
Behavioral (ABA) AssessmentsFBA, BIP review, ABA skills assessments, parent/caregiver training assessments, naturalistic observation.
Educational & School-Based EvaluationsIEP eligibility, 504 plans, Independent Educational Evaluations, placement reviews.
Related Services & ForensicSpeech, OT, PT, feeding/nutrition, psychosocial, parenting capacity, forensic interview.
The BCBA Credential MapBCBA, LBA, BCBA-D, BCaBA, RBT — who is qualified to say what in court.
Key Questions to Ask Any EvaluatorCredentials, tools, observations, collateral data, conclusions, recency, conflicts of interest.
Key takeaway: Family law attorneys who know what each evaluation type measures — and who is qualified to conduct and interpret them — are far better equipped to advocate effectively for the child’s best interests.
You’ll be able to
- Quickly identify which evaluations strengthen your client’s position
- Spot outdated, incomplete, or mismatched evaluator credentials in opposing reports
- Ask sharper deposition questions about tools, norms, and methodology
- Translate ABA and behavioral data into court-admissible language
- Recognize when a BCBA integrative expert should be engaged
“A behavior without its function is just a description. A diagnosis without the right evaluator behind it is just a label.”
About the author
Jamie Bassos, MS, BCBA, LBA, ACC
Board Certified Behavior Analyst · Licensed Behavior Analyst · ICF-Certified Executive Coach
25+ years in autism and behavioral science. Expert witness services for family law cases involving autism spectrum disorder and developmental disabilities. South Florida · Serving national cases.
“The autism expert that legal teams hire.”
Get the Assessment Reference Guide
Instant PDF download. Keep it on your desktop for every assessment-related motion, deposition, and trial prep.
This resource is for educational purposes and does not constitute legal advice. For case-specific consultation, contact Bassos Consulting Group.
