Current through August 12, 2025 (2026 Practice Book edition) · Last verified July 9, 2026
In one sentenceThis section requires a court-ordered private evaluation to be done by a qualified licensed health care provider, requires the order to state the provider, the cost, each party’s share, the credentials, the deadline and the testimony fee, and gives the provider thirty days to file the report.
(a)If the court orders a private evaluation of any party or any child in a family proceeding where custody, visitation or parental access is at issue, a qualified, licensed health care provider shall conduct such evaluation.
(b)If the court has determined that an evaluation can be undertaken and a qualified, licensed health care provider has been selected to perform the evaluation, the court’s order for an evaluation shall contain the name of the provider who is to undertake the evaluation, the estimated cost of the evaluation, each party’s responsibility for the cost of the evaluation, the professional credentials of the provider, the estimated deadline by which the evaluation shall be completed and submitted to the court, and the estimated fee of the provider for testifying in court. The estimated cost of the evaluation shall include, separately stated, the estimated fee of the provider for testifying in court.
(c)Not later than thirty days after the date of the completion of the evaluation, the provider shall file a report containing the results of the evaluation with the clerk of the court, who shall seal such report.
(d)Notice of any orders relating to the evaluation ordered shall be communicated to the evaluator by the guardian ad litem or, where there is no guardian ad litem, by court personnel.
(e)Until a court-ordered evaluation is filed with the clerk pursuant to Section 25-60 (b), counsel for the parties shall not initiate contact with the evaluator, unless otherwise ordered by the judicial authority.
(f)The provisions of subsections (a) and (b) of Section 25-60 shall apply to completed private court-ordered evaluations.
End
Amendment History
(Adopted June 20, 2011, to take effect Aug. 15, 2011; amended June 15, 2012, to take effect Jan. 1, 2013; amended June 11, 2021, to take effect Jan. 1, 2022.)
Plain-English Summary
Where the court orders a private evaluation of a party or a child in a case involving custody, visitation or parental access, a qualified, licensed health care provider must conduct it.
What the order must contain. Once the court has determined that an evaluation can be undertaken and a provider has been selected, the order states the provider’s name, the estimated cost, each party’s responsibility for that cost, the provider’s professional credentials, the estimated deadline for completing and submitting the evaluation, and the estimated fee for testifying in court — which must also be stated separately within the estimated cost.
That list is written for the parties who will pay for it. A private evaluation is expensive, and the order tells them who they are hiring, what it will cost, what their share is, and what it will cost again if the evaluator has to testify.
Filing. Not later than thirty days after the evaluation is completed, the provider files the report with the clerk, who seals it.
Contact. Notice of orders relating to the evaluation is communicated to the evaluator by the guardian ad litem, or by court personnel where there is none. Until the report is filed, counsel may not initiate contact with the evaluator unless the court orders otherwise — so the evaluator forms their view without being lobbied.
The first two subsections of Section 25-60 apply to completed private court-ordered evaluations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can perform a court-ordered custody evaluation in Connecticut?
A qualified, licensed health care provider.
What must the order for a private evaluation say?
The provider’s name, the estimated cost, each party’s responsibility for the cost, the provider’s professional credentials, the estimated deadline for completion and submission, and the estimated fee for testifying in court, stated separately.
When must the report be filed?
Not later than thirty days after the date the evaluation is completed. The clerk seals it.
Can my lawyer contact the evaluator?
Not until the evaluation is filed with the clerk, unless the judicial authority orders otherwise.
Source & verification. The section text is reproduced verbatim from the
official Connecticut Practice Book (Conn. Practice Book § 25-60A). Prescribed by the Judges of the Superior Court of Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. Section 51-14). The plain-English summary is original and written by us. Last verified July 9, 2026. ·
Official source
Also known as:court-ordered private evaluation Connecticut custodyPractice Book section 25-60Awho pays for custody evaluation CTevaluator contact rules Connecticut