Why can one court-ordered process have so many different names? Look up Types of Child Custody Evaluations in Texas and you may find a list that includes full evaluations, limited evaluations, forensic evaluations, psychological evaluations, home studies, and social studies. Texas law does not divide child custody evaluations that way. Chapter 107 of the Texas Family Code provides one child custody evaluation, allows the court’s order to determine its scope, and places several other procedures people call “types” under separate legal authority.
Perhaps one of these terms appeared in the other parent’s paperwork, came up during a hearing, or was mentioned while you were already worried about your child’s home life, school performance, or emotional well-being. The label alone does not tell you what will happen. The first step toward clarity is identifying the governing authority, reading the court’s order, and understanding the questions the evaluator was appointed to address.
Led by Bryan Joseph Fagan, a South Texas College of Law graduate and Texas family-law attorney licensed since 2012, The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC helps families replace uncertainty with reliable information and a practical path forward. That commitment reflects our mission of educating families and protecting futures. This page sorts the terms you are likely to hear, explains what each procedure rests on, and helps you understand what the court actually ordered so you can approach the process with greater confidence and peace of mind.
Key Takeaways
- One statutory procedure. Section 107.101 defines a single “child custody evaluation” ordered by a court in a contested case.
- Scope comes from the order. Section 107.103 requires the order to state the purpose, the basic and any additional elements, and the specific issues or questions.
- A mental examination is a different procedure. Section 107.1025 says a Rule 204.4 examination does not by itself satisfy the requirements for a child custody evaluation.
- An adoption evaluation is a different procedure too. It has its own subchapter, Sections 107.151 through 107.163.
- “Social study” is an older name, not an extra type. The 2015 legislation that rebuilt Chapter 107 replaced it.
Quick Answer
Does Texas law divide custody evaluations into types? No. Texas provides one child custody evaluation, under Chapter 107, Subchapter D of the Family Code, and the court’s order decides what it covers. A Rule 204.4 mental examination and a Subchapter E adoption evaluation are separate procedures. “Social study” is the older statutory term.
Every Term You May Hear, Compared
Confusion can start with a word someone used. Find the term you heard in the left-hand column; the rest of the row shows the authority it traces to, what it actually is, whether it is a separate type of Chapter 107 evaluation, and which page covers it.
| Term readers encounter | Governing authority | What it actually is | Separate type of Chapter 107 evaluation? | Owner page |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child custody evaluation | Family Code Chapter 107, Subchapter D | The one court-ordered evaluation for conservatorship, possession and access questions in a contested case | No — it is the one Chapter 107 evaluation | how a Texas child custody evaluation works |
| “Full” or “limited” evaluation | Family Code §107.103(c) | How much one child custody evaluation covers. The order sets that. | No — a difference in scope | how a Texas child custody evaluation works |
| “Focused” evaluation | Family Code §107.103(c) | A description of a narrow order, not a statutory category. | No — a difference in scope | how a Texas child custody evaluation works |
| “Psychological evaluation” | Rule 204.4; Family Code §107.1025 | In this Texas family-law context, the label may refer to a Rule 204.4 mental examination by a court-appointed psychologist or psychiatrist. | No — a separate procedure that does not by itself satisfy Chapter 107 | court-ordered psychological examinations in custody cases |
| Adoption evaluation | Family Code §§107.151–107.163; §107.202 in contested adoptions | A pre-placement and post-placement evaluation in an adoption or certain termination suits. In a contested adoption, the court first decides whether the questions call for this or a child custody evaluation. | No — a separate procedure | No owner page yet; summary on this page |
| “Social study” | House Bill 1449 (2015) | The older statutory name for what current law calls a child custody evaluation or an adoption evaluation | No — an older name | This page: social study |
| “Home study” | Family Code §107.103(a); §107.153(b) | An informal label for the residence part of a custody evaluation order, or the home-environment part of an adoption evaluation | No — an informal label | This page: home study |
| A county program, form or office name | Family Code §107.108(b), (g) | Local administration of the one Chapter 107 evaluation; local rules may not conflict with the subchapter | No — local administration, not a separate type | how a Texas child custody evaluation works |
| “CPS evaluation” | Family Code §107.102 | Not a child custody evaluation. The Department may not conduct one, and a Department evaluation under Section 262.114 falls outside the definition. | No — not a Chapter 107 evaluation at all | This page: the Department rule |
How the Three Procedures Work
The three actual procedures differ in how they come about, who conducts them and what they produce.
| Procedure | Authority | How it comes about | Who conducts it | What it produces |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child custody evaluation | Family Code Chapter 107, Subchapter D | A court order in a contested case, after notice and hearing or on agreement of the parties | A child custody evaluator, private or working with a domestic relations office | Information, opinions, recommendations and answers to the court’s questions about conservatorship, possession, access and related best-interest issues |
| Mental examination | Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 204.4 | An appointment by the court, on its own initiative or on a party’s motion, in a case under Family Code Title II or V | One or more psychologists or psychiatrists | Mental examinations of the children or parties; not by itself a child custody evaluation |
| Adoption evaluation | Family Code Chapter 107, Subchapter E | Ordered under Section 107.153 in an adoption and in certain termination suits; in a contested adoption, assigned under Section 107.202 | A qualified individual, a qualified private entity or a domestic relations office, subject to Section 107.152 | Pre-placement and post-placement reports filed with the court before final orders |
Are There Different Types of Child Custody Evaluations in Texas?
No. Types of Child Custody Evaluations in Texas are not separate statutory categories. Texas Family Code §107.101 defines one child custody evaluation: a court-ordered process used in a contested case to provide information, opinions, recommendations, and answers about conservatorship, possession, access, or another issue affecting a child’s best interest.
What changes from case to case is the assignment. Under §107.103, the court’s order identifies the evaluation’s purpose, required elements, additional elements, and specific questions. Labels such as “full,” “limited,” “focused,” or “forensic” may describe the breadth or purpose of the assignment, but they do not create new kinds of evaluations under Chapter 107.
For example, one order might require broad interviews, home observations, record reviews, and relationship assessments. Another might focus on relocation, school stability, substance misuse, or a specific safety concern. Both remain Texas child custody evaluations because the written order—not the informal label—determines what the evaluator may examine.
Parents who want to understand the statutes, court orders, evaluator qualifications, and report requirements can read our guide to the legal framework governing custody evaluations in Texas.
Is “Social Study” Still the Current Legal Term?
“Social study” is the older statutory name. Chapter 107 used that term until House Bill 1449 replaced it with “child custody evaluation,” renumbered the provisions into the Section 107.101 range, added the adoption evaluation subchapter, and repealed the older adoption-side “social study” sections. Section 107.103, for example, was redesignated from former Section 107.051.
House Bill 1449 took effect on September 1, 2015, but its changes generally apply to suits affecting the parent-child relationship filed on or after March 1, 2016. The Act also contains a separate transition rule for adoption evaluations, so an earlier matter may still appear in records under the former “social study” terminology. You may still see “social study” in older materials; it refers to what current law calls a child custody evaluation or an adoption evaluation, not to an additional procedure.
Short answer
No. “Social study” is the older statutory name. House Bill 1449 replaced it with “child custody evaluation” on the custody side and “adoption evaluation” on the adoption side. It is not a third procedure alongside them.
Is a Home Study a Separate Texas Custody Procedure?
No. “Home study” is an informal label, not a separate statewide custody procedure. In a custody case, the order may cover the residence of a person requesting conservatorship, possession or access under Section 107.103(a). In an adoption case, the evaluation must include the home and social environment of a person requesting to adopt under Section 107.153(b). Which of those someone means by “home study” depends on the case they are in.
What Is a Child Custody Evaluation Under Texas Law?
Under Section 107.103, a court may order a child custody evaluation after notice and hearing or on agreement of the parties. The order can cover the circumstances and condition of the child, of a party and, if appropriate, of the residence of anyone requesting conservatorship, possession or access, as well as any issue or question the court asks about before or during the evaluation. In a suit where a nonparent seeks conservatorship, the court must first make a specific finding that good cause has been shown for appointing an evaluator.
Whether to order one is the court’s call. In a 2022 memorandum opinion in a modification case, In re Z.J.M.A., a Texas court of appeals reviewed the denial of a request for a Section 107.103 evaluation for abuse of discretion and found no reversible error on that record. The opinion did not create different types of custody evaluations or hold that evaluations are unnecessary generally.
One point clears up a common mix-up. Under Section 107.102, the Department of Family and Protective Services may not conduct a child custody evaluation. An assessment in a case involving the Department is not a Chapter 107 custody evaluation by another name.
Who may serve as an evaluator, what the evaluation must include, and what the report may and may not do are covered in our guide to how a Texas child custody evaluation works.
Why Can Two Custody Evaluations Look So Different?
Differences between two evaluations can begin with the court’s order. Outside one narrow exception, Section 107.103(c) requires the order to include:
- the name of each person who will conduct the evaluation;
- the purpose of the evaluation;
- a list of the basic elements of an evaluation required by Section 107.109(c);
- a list of any additional elements the court requires, including those specified in Section 107.109(d); and
- the specific issues or questions the evaluation is to address.
Scope is set by the order
Two evaluations can look very different because two courts asked different questions and required different additional elements. That is a difference in scope, fixed by each order, not a difference in type. The place to find what a particular evaluation covers is the order that created it.
Does It Matter Who Conducts the Evaluation?
Yes, because the evaluator must satisfy the applicable qualifications and follow the court’s order, but the evaluator’s work setting does not create another evaluation type. The Types of Child Custody Evaluations in Texas remain one Chapter 107 process even when different qualified professionals or offices conduct it.
Section 107.101 defines a “private child custody evaluator” as someone who is not performing the evaluation as an employee of or contractor with a domestic relations office. “Private” therefore describes the evaluator’s work setting; it does not necessarily mean the person was privately hired by one parent. Section 107.104 generally establishes the qualifications for individuals who conduct these evaluations, subject to the statute’s stated exceptions.
County courts and domestic relations offices may use different forms, program names, scheduling practices, or administrative procedures. Those local differences do not create additional statutory categories. Under §107.108, local requirements may not conflict with Subchapter D, and the evaluation must comply with that subchapter whether performed locally or at a geographically distant location.
A child custody evaluation should also not be confused with an evaluation conducted in a guardianship proceeding, which follows a different legal framework and serves a different purpose. Our guides explain both how a Texas child custody evaluation works and the separate guardianship evaluation process in Texas.
Is a Psychological Evaluation a Type of Custody Evaluation?
No. A psychological or psychiatric examination ordered in a family case is a separate procedure. Under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 204.4, in a case arising under Family Code Title II or V, the court may, on its own initiative or on a party’s motion, appoint one or more psychologists or psychiatrists to make appropriate mental examinations of the children who are the subject of the suit or of other parties.
Section 107.1025 draws the line between the two: a Rule 204.4 mental examination does not by itself satisfy the requirements for a child custody evaluation. It may be included in the evaluation report and relied on by the evaluator to the extent the evaluator considers appropriate. So a psychological examination can feed into a custody evaluation, but it is not a type of one. For how those examinations work, see court-ordered psychological examinations in custody cases.
Is an Adoption Evaluation the Same as a Custody Evaluation?
No. Chapter 107 has a second evaluation subchapter, and it is not about custody disputes. Subchapter E governs adoption evaluations, which Section 107.151 defines as a pre-placement or post-placement evaluative process through which information and recommendations regarding adoption of a child may be made to the court, the parties and their attorneys.
Under Section 107.153, the court must order an adoption evaluation of each party requesting termination or adoption in a suit for adoption, or in a termination suit in which a person other than a parent may be appointed managing conservator. In an uncontested stepparent adoption, the court may waive that requirement after reviewing the Department’s investigative records and the Department of Public Safety’s criminal history information. The evaluation must include the circumstances and condition of the home and social environment of any person requesting to adopt. Under Section 107.152, the pre-placement and post-placement parts conducted by a licensed child-placing agency or the Department follow the Department’s rules rather than this subchapter.
Contested adoptions add one step. Under Section 107.202, when an adoption is contested, the court must decide what questions are being asked before it appoints anyone. If the question is whether termination of parental rights is in the child’s best interest, the court orders a child custody evaluation under Subchapter D with termination as one of its specific issues; it may adjust that evaluation’s requirements by written order and may have the evaluator also address the adoption-evaluation requirements if the evaluator recommends termination. If the question is only whether the people seeking to adopt would be suitable, the court may order an adoption evaluation under Subchapter E. Under Section 107.201, this assignment rule does not apply in a suit in which the Department of Family and Protective Services is a party. It is a rule for choosing between the two procedures, not a third type.
One reason the two get confused: a person qualified as a child custody evaluator may also qualify to conduct adoption evaluations under Section 107.154. The same professional can do both; the procedures remain separate. Adoption evaluations are outside the scope of this page.
How Can a Parent Tell What Evaluation the Court Ordered?
Read the signed order rather than relying on the label someone used. For most Chapter 107 appointments, §107.103(c) requires the order to identify each evaluator, state the purpose, list the required and additional elements, and specify the questions to be addressed. A limited exception applies when the appointed evaluator qualifies through a domestic relations office under §107.104(b)(3).
Separate procedures should appear under their own authority. A psychological or psychiatric examination is appointed under Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 204.4, while an adoption evaluation is ordered under §107.153. Comparing the document with those authorities is the most reliable way to sort through the labels associated with Types of Child Custody Evaluations in Texas.
Identifying the procedure does not predict the outcome. The court still applies the Texas best-interest standard and decides what weight to give the evidence, as discussed in our guide to what courts mean by a child’s best interests. If the evaluator appears to exceed the order, overlook important records, or use an unclear process, review these 10 red flags in a Texas custody evaluation and discuss the specific concern with counsel.
Legal Resources
Legal research note: This page was checked against Texas Family Code Sections 107.101, 107.102, 107.1025 and 107.103, Sections 107.151 through 107.163, Section 107.108(b) and (g), Sections 107.201 and 107.202, Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 204.4 in the current official compilation, the enrolled text of House Bill 1449 (2015), and one Texas appellate opinion. The authorities were last checked on September 24, 2026.
- Texas Family Code §107.101 — the definition of a child custody evaluation and of a private child custody evaluator. A readable reproduction, not the Legislature’s official text.
- Texas Family Code §107.102 — applicability, including that the Department of Family and Protective Services may not conduct a child custody evaluation. A readable reproduction.
- Texas Family Code §107.1025 — a Rule 204.4 mental examination does not by itself satisfy the requirements for a child custody evaluation. A readable reproduction.
- Texas Family Code §107.103 — the order for a child custody evaluation and what it must include. A readable reproduction.
- Texas Family Code Chapter 107, Subchapter E — adoption evaluations, Sections 107.151 through 107.163. A readable reproduction.
- Texas Family Code §107.153 — when an adoption evaluation must be ordered, the stepparent waiver, and who may conduct it. A readable reproduction.
- Texas Family Code §107.108 — courts may adopt local rules for evaluations that do not conflict with the subchapter, and an evaluation must comply with the subchapter wherever it is conducted. A readable reproduction.
- Texas Family Code §107.202 — in a contested adoption, the court decides whether the questions call for a child custody evaluation (with termination as an issue) or an adoption evaluation; Section 107.201 excludes suits in which the Department is a party. A readable reproduction.
- Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, Rule 204.4 — court appointment of psychologists or psychiatrists for mental examinations in Family Code Title II or V cases. The current official compilation of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure.
- In re Z.J.M.A., No. 13-20-00469-CV (Tex. App.—Corpus Christi–Edinburg Feb. 17, 2022) (mem. op.) — a modification appeal in which the trial court denied a motion for a child custody evaluation without a hearing. Reviewing for abuse of discretion, the court of appeals found no reversible error on that record. A memorandum opinion; it did not hold that evaluations are generally unnecessary and did not address types of evaluations. A readable reproduction.
- House Bill 1449, 84th Legislature (2015), enrolled act — replaced “social study” with “child custody evaluation,” redesignated the provisions, and added the adoption evaluation subchapter. It took effect September 1, 2015, but its changes generally apply to suits filed on or after March 1, 2016, with a separate transition rule for adoption evaluations. The official enrolled text.
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Kimberly P. Washington
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Kimberly Washington has been with the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC since 2015 and provides senior legal leadership in Texas family-law matters, including divorce, child custody, and mediation. Start by identifying which procedure the order actually requires.
Licensed by the State Bar of Texas since 2008 · Juris Doctor, Thurgood Marshall School of Law
Conclusion:
The most important lesson about the Types of Child Custody Evaluations in Texas is that the label does not control the process. What matters is the legal authority behind the appointment, the evaluator selected, and the questions the court directed that person to address.
In straightforward situations, understanding the order and preparing organized, relevant information may be enough to move forward confidently. In more complex cases involving family violence, substance misuse, relocation, psychological evidence, special needs, or disputed evaluator conduct, the response may require a more focused legal strategy. The level of preparation should match the issues and risks presented by the case.
The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC helps families with custody disputes and other Texas family-law matters, including annulment in Rockwall County. To discuss what your evaluation order means and what steps may be appropriate, call 281-810-9760 or schedule a free consultation. Clear guidance can help you protect your child, make informed decisions, and move forward with greater peace of mind.
About the Author
Bryan Fagan
Founder, Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC
Texas Divorce & Family Law Attorney · Licensed in Texas Since 2012
Bryan Fagan founded the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC in 2012. His work includes Texas family-law strategy, firmwide leadership, team-based case planning, and client education designed to help families understand their legal options and make informed decisions.
Juris Doctor, South Texas College of Law, 2011 · Licensed by the State Bar of Texas May 4, 2012 · Bar No. 24080889
About the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC
The Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC helps Texas families understand and navigate family-law issues involving divorce, child custody, possession and access, and related matters. Founded by Bryan Fagan in 2012, the firm combines legal representation with education designed to give families clearer information about their options and the decisions ahead.
This page provides general information about the court-ordered evaluations and examinations that arise in Texas family cases. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Which procedure applies, and what it covers, depends on the court’s order and the facts of the individual case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Texas law provides one child custody evaluation, under Chapter 107, Subchapter D of the Family Code. The court’s order sets its scope. Procedures that may be described as other “types” are separate: a Rule 204.4 mental examination, and an adoption evaluation under Subchapter E. “Social study” is the older name, not an additional type.
No. A psychological examination ordered under Rule 204.4 is a separate procedure. Section 107.1025 provides that it does not by itself satisfy the requirements for a child custody evaluation, although the evaluator may include it in the report and rely on it to the extent the evaluator considers appropriate.
It is the older name for what Chapter 107 now calls a child custody evaluation. House Bill 1449 took effect on September 1, 2015, but its changes generally apply to suits filed on or after March 1, 2016, so records from earlier matters may still use the old term. Current law does not treat a social study as a separate procedure.
It is an informal label rather than a separate statewide custody procedure. In a custody case, an evaluation order may cover the residence of a person seeking conservatorship or access. In an adoption case, the adoption evaluation must include the home and social environment of the person requesting to adopt.
No. Adoption evaluations have their own subchapter, Sections 107.151 through 107.163, with their own ordering rules, qualifications and reports. In a contested adoption, the court decides which one the questions call for. The procedures stay separate, and an adoption evaluation is not a type of child custody evaluation.
The court, through its order. Outside a narrow exception, Section 107.103(c) requires the order to name each evaluator and to state the purpose, the basic elements, any additional elements the court requires, and the specific issues or questions the evaluation must address.
