---
title: "What Should Forensic Professionals Know About the Evolution of \"Child Custody\" Evaluation to \"Parenting Plan\" Evaluation?"
description: "Forensic psychology is shifting from \"child custody evaluation\" to \"parenting plan evaluation\"—prioritizing collaboration and child-centered care over control-based language."
---

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# [What Should Forensic Professionals Know About the Evolution of "Child Custody" Evaluation to "Parenting Plan" Evaluation?](https://paloaltou.edu/resources/business-of-practice-blog/what-should-forensic-professionals-know-about-the-evolution-of-child-custody-evaluation-to-parenting-plan-evaluation)

 Written by [Patricia A. Zapf, PhD](https://paloaltou.edu/resources/business-of-practice-blog/author/patricia-a-zapf-phd) | Oct 23, 2025 10:53:38 PM

The field of forensic psychology is evolving. Many professionals are now replacing the term “child custody evaluation” with “parenting plan evaluation.”

[View full post](https://paloaltou.edu/resources/business-of-practice-blog/what-should-forensic-professionals-know-about-the-evolution-of-child-custody-evaluation-to-parenting-plan-evaluation)

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