HB 152 would add a new section to Maryland’s Family Law article governing court-appointed custody evaluators in contested custody and visitation cases. The bill authorizes a court, on motion of a party or child’s counsel or on its own initiative, to order an assessment to help evaluate a child’s health, safety, welfare, or best interests, and to appoint a custody evaluator for a home study or evaluation of a specific issue. It also requires notice and an opportunity to object before a court can allocate assessment costs to a party.
The core of the bill is a set of mandatory qualifications for anyone appointed as a custody evaluator. Eligible evaluators would be limited to specified licensed professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, clinical social workers, certain graduate/master social workers with relevant experience, and clinical professional counselors, with out-of-state equivalents allowed where licensure is comparable. In addition, evaluators must have completed approved training, meet continuing education requirements, have experience with custody evaluations, and possess current knowledge of domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, trauma, family conflict, child development, and the effects of divorce or separation.
If enacted, the bill would change Maryland law by restricting judicial appointments of custody evaluators to professionals meeting these enumerated credentials and training standards. It would likely affect family law litigants, children involved in custody disputes, courts, and the pool of professionals available to perform custody evaluations. The bill is scheduled to take effect July 1, 2025.
The available context shows no committee transcript or recorded votes, so there is no documented floor or committee debate to gauge broad sentiment. Based on the bill text, the measure appears aimed at improving the reliability and expertise of custody evaluations and protecting children and families in high-conflict cases. Any likely support would come from those favoring stronger professional standards in family court, while possible concerns could come from parties worried about reduced evaluator availability, increased costs, or limits on judicial discretion in selecting evaluators.
HB 152 would create new statutory requirements in Maryland family law for court-appointed custody evaluators, limiting appointments to specified licensed mental health and social work professionals and requiring training, continuing education, and subject-matter expertise. It would also require notice and an opportunity to object before assessment costs are shifted to a party, affecting custody and visitation proceedings, courts, litigants, and professionals who perform evaluations.
No committee discussion or vote record is provided, so there is no direct evidence of legislative sentiment. The bill’s structure suggests a generally reform-oriented, child-protective approach focused on improving evaluator qualifications and the quality of custody assessments, which would likely be viewed favorably by supporters of family-court standards and child welfare protections.
The main potential points of contention are the bill’s narrowing of who may serve as a custody evaluator and the added procedural and professional requirements. Supporters are likely to emphasize child safety, evaluator competence, and better handling of domestic violence, abuse, and trauma. Opponents or skeptics may argue that the bill could reduce the number of available evaluators, increase costs, or constrain judicial flexibility in selecting qualified professionals for complex custody cases.