Difficulties in appraisals of adolescents aged over 14 years with respect to custody and visitation rights

This retrospective study analyses 55 custody- and visitation rights expert opinions furnished at the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Tübingen from 1990 to 2005. The aim of the study was to find out reasons and circumstances prompting judges to order appraisals of adolescents aged over 14 years during proceedings of custody and visitation rights. Expertises were examined for possible gender-specific differences. Further, a census of the judges was arranged. It became obvious that expertises were rarely requested during proceedings of custody and especially of visitation rights. Financial problems, parental alcoholism and educational incompetence or mental diseases of the adolescents and/or their parents were found in these extremely conflict-ridden family situations. Gender-specific variable results were found as far as the relationship of the young towards their parents and siblings is concerned, their wish for future residence, and the expert recommendation on provision for custody and visitation rights.