His book fully, clearly, and concisely explains the process of court child custody litigation. It shows how custody decisions are made, what can be expected at each stage of the process, and how parents can insure that their abilities are clearly presented to persons with influence over the custody decision. It is intended to eliminate surprises that could lead to costly mistakes along the way.

Parents who settle custody disputes out of court will not only save tens of thousands of dollars, but will have avoided the rancor and hostility of a custody trial that makes future cooperation in raising the children almost impossible.

With help from a capable and experienced attorney, this book will allow the reader to present her/his case for custody in its best possible light. A must-read for divorcing parents, custody evaluators, family psychologists, and marriage and family therapists.

Chapters Include: How to Conduct Yourself During the Custody Evaluation; The Role of Attorneys; Protecting Your Child; Psychological Evaluations; Child Abuse and False Accusations; Gender Bias in the Courts; Domestic Violence; Child Support; Attorney Fees.

James W. Stewart, JD, retired in 1999 as Supervising Judge of the Family Court, Santa Clara County, California, and is now a panel member of the American Arbitration Association.