Expert Answers to Your Florida Custody Questions from Dr. Kristin Tolbert
This FAQ provides expert guidance on Florida child custody matters from Dr. Kristin Tolbert, a Florida-licensed forensic psychologist specializing in high-conflict custody cases. All answers reference Florida law and are designed to help parents and attorneys understand how forensic psychology consulting can strengthen custody cases in Florida courts.
A forensic psychology consultant helps Florida family law attorneys analyze psychological evidence, critique custody evaluations, and develop litigation strategy in high-conflict custody cases.
In Florida, where child custody is legally called "Parental Responsibility and Time-Sharing" under Florida Statutes Chapter 61, a forensic psychology consultant like Dr. Tolbert works behind the scenes with legal teams to:
Florida Law Reference: Florida Statute §61.13(3) outlines the factors Florida courts must consider when determining parental responsibility and time-sharing, including the mental and physical health of the parents, the capacity to maintain a relationship with the child, and any evidence of domestic violence or substance abuse.
Dr. Kristin Tolbert is a highly-regarded child custody consultant in Florida, specializing in high-conflict cases involving narcissistic abuse and parental alienation.
When looking for a custody consultant in Florida, you want someone who:
An expert witness helps prove narcissistic abuse by identifying behavioral patterns, documenting manipulation tactics, and explaining psychological dynamics to the court in terms that align with Florida's custody factors.
In Florida custody cases, narcissistic abuse often goes undetected because narcissistic parents are skilled manipulators who present well to evaluators. A forensic psychology expert like Dr. Tolbert can:
Florida Statute §61.13 establishes the "Best Interests of the Child" standard that Florida courts must use when determining parental responsibility and time-sharing arrangements.
This statute outlines 20 specific factors that Florida judges must consider, including:
Dr. Tolbert's evaluations and critiques are specifically designed to align with these statutory factors, helping attorneys build stronger arguments that speak directly to what Florida courts are required to consider.
Florida courts recognize parental alienation as a serious factor under §61.13(3)(a), which evaluates each parent's capacity to facilitate a close relationship between the child and the other parent.
Key signs of parental alienation that Florida courts consider include:
Dr. Tolbert specializes in documenting these patterns and explaining to Florida courts how alienating behaviors violate the "facilitation" requirement under Florida law.
In Florida, "parental responsibility" refers to decision-making authority, while "time-sharing" refers to the physical time each parent spends with the child.
The legal right to make major decisions about the child's welfare, including education, healthcare, and religious upbringing. Florida courts presume shared parental responsibility unless evidence shows it would be detrimental to the child.
The schedule that determines when the child stays with each parent. Florida courts develop time-sharing schedules based on the best interests factors in §61.13, with no presumption that equal time is required.
A social investigation under Florida Statute §61.20 is a court-ordered evaluation conducted by a mental health professional or social worker to assess the family and make recommendations about parental responsibility and time-sharing.
Social investigators in Florida must be licensed psychologists, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, or mental health counselors. They conduct:
Important: Dr. Tolbert does not conduct custody evaluations. Instead, she reviews and critiques existing evaluations to identify bias, methodological errors, and flawed conclusions that may mislead the court.
Red flags in Florida custody evaluations include evaluator bias, failure to properly assess alienation or abuse, reliance on invalid tests, and recommendations that don't align with Florida Statute §61.13 factors.
Common problems Dr. Tolbert identifies in flawed Florida evaluations:
Dr. Kristin Tolbert's forensic psychology consultation services are engagement terms discussed during case review for Florida custody cases.
Services include:
Contact: Call 561-429-2140 or email DrTolbert@ChildCustodyConsulting.com for a consultation.
Yes. Dr. Kristin Tolbert is a Florida Licensed Psychologist and has been qualified as an expert witness in Florida courts, as well as in Maryland, Nevada, California, and Alaska.
Her credentials specifically relevant to Florida custody cases include:
Dr. Tolbert provides consultation and expert witness services throughout all Florida judicial circuits, with particular experience in South Florida circuits including Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties.
Florida counties served include:
Both parents and attorneys can contact Dr. Tolbert directly. She provides litigation consulting to attorneys under attorney-client privilege, and also offers direct consultation to parents navigating custody cases.
Dr. Tolbert integrates into your legal team as a confidential consultant. All work is protected under attorney-client privilege, allowing for strategic analysis without disclosure obligations.
Attorney Services →Parents can schedule consultations to understand their case, identify red flags in evaluations, develop strategy, and understand complex psychological dynamics at play.
Family Services →Dr. Tolbert provides expert forensic psychology consultation for Florida custody cases. Call today for a confidential consultation.