# COMAR Title 10 — Maryland Department of Health

## Subtitle 36 — Board of Examiners of Psychologists

### Chapter 09 — Child Custody Evaluations in Family Law Proceedings

#### Regulation .04 Competence Necessary to Conduct Child Custody Evaluations.

*COMAR 10.36.09.04*

A. To be considered competent to conduct child custody evaluations, a psychologist shall have education, training, experience, or supervision in the following areas:

  (1) Child and adult development and psychopathology;

  (2) Family dynamics and psychopathology, including the impact of divorce;

  (3) Maryland law governing:

    (a) Divorce;

    (b) Child custody proceedings;

    (c) Child abuse and neglect; and

    (d) Family violence; and

  (4) Performing psychological assessments of:

    (a) Children;

    (b) Adults; and

    (c) Families.

B. A psychologist conducting a child custody evaluation shall have competence to effectively address common issues that may arise in conducting child custody evaluations such as:

  (1) Age;

  (2) Disability;

  (3) Ethnicity;

  (4) Gender;

  (5) Gender identity;

  (6) Language;

  (7) National origin;

  (8) Race;

  (9) Religion;

  (10) Culture;

  (11) Sexual orientation; and

  (12) Socioeconomic status.

C. A psychologist shall have an awareness of the literature relevant to conducting child custody evaluations.