A follow-up of families disputing child custody/access: Assessment,settlement, and family relationship outcomes

In this pilot study, 49 parents who had been involved in a custody and/or access assessment several years previously responded to a structured telephone survey. Information about eventual settlement processes, custody and access arrangements, satisfaction with the clinical assessment, children's adjustment, family relationships, and ongoing family problems was gathered an average of two and one half years after the assessment. Sole custody arrangements evidenced the greatest degree of stability from assessment to follow-up, while joint custody arrangements were more unstable. Visitation was not occurring for a substantial number of children (35%) at follow-up, even when it was recommended on a regular and frequent basis. Although parents reported little or no ongoing contact with their ex-spouse, they also reported continuing concerns and new problems with respect to the other parent or their children. The impact of this form of “parallel parenting” is discussed within the context of high-conflict, multiproblem families.