Integrity and Transparency

Abstract The author offers commentary concerning the importance of an evaluator'S disclosure of prior or current relationships with custody litigants; of diligence in the creation and maintenance of records; and of cooperation with those wishing to scrutinize one'S work. The position is advanced that all information considered by an evaluator must be preserved, as must audio or video tape recordings of interviews and evaluative sessions. The author opines that where a thorough exploration of the bases for an evaluator'S opinions is impeded by deficient records or by the unavailability of certain records, the risk is increased that evaluator errors will go undetected.