Single father in need of legal help
I'm a single father in Sonoma County, California, and I'm looking for advice from anyone who's been through a high-conflict custody case.
I've been involved in family court since my daughter was born, and it's been an exhausting process. Over the course of the case, I've had countless allegations made against me that I believe have never been supported by evidence, yet I still feel like I'm constantly having to defend myself.
Now the court is requiring a Brief Focused Assessment (BFA), and I'm concerned about how the process is being handled. In the past, my daughter's mother selected the family counselor, and in my opinion the counselor did not complete the responsibilities that were expected during the case. Because of that experience, I'm worried about ending up in a similar situation again.
Has anyone successfully asked the court to have input on who performs the BFA? Is it reasonable to request that the evaluator be selected jointly by both parents, chosen from an approved list, or appointed by the court instead of one parent having the choice?
If you've been through this in California—especially Sonoma County—I would really appreciate hearing what worked for you. If you have experience filing a request with the court or know what factors judges consider when deciding who performs a BFA, I'd love to hear your advice.
I'm not looking to attack my daughter's mother. I just want a fair process that focuses on what's in my daughter's best interests.
Thank you.