Marc R. Lynde, Esq.
In Bucks County, contested custody cases are typically referred to the Court Conciliation & Evaluation Service (CCES), a unique local process that combines conciliation, parenting education, and psychological evaluation. Rather than a traditional trial, the CCES evaluator conducts interviews with both parents and children, evaluates the family dynamics, and develops a recommended (or agreed-upon) parenting plan. This process has been operating since 1985 and is an alternative to adversarial custody litigation. Understanding how CCES works is essential for any parent involved in a Bucks County custody dispute.
The Court Conciliation & Evaluation Service of Bucks County is a non-adversarial process designed to resolve custody and visitation disputes without requiring a contested hearing. Located at 354 N. Main Street, Doylestown, PA 18901, CCES operates as a court-annexed service. The evaluators are licensed mental health professionals (psychologists, counselors, social workers) who act as neutral third parties.
The process combines three elements: (1) conciliation efforts to help parents reach agreement, (2) parenting education and co-parenting counseling, and (3) psychological evaluation to assess each parent's fitness to parent and the child's needs. The goal is to produce either an Agreed-Upon Parenting Plan (if the parents reach agreement) or a Recommended Parenting Plan (based on the evaluator's assessment).
Most parents are referred to CCES following a meeting with the Custody Master at the Bucks County Courthouse, though some cases are referred directly from the bench. The process begins with the Custody Master office providing you with a Referral Form and Consent and Waiver Form.
Critical deadline: You must complete these forms and return them to the Custody Master's office. Once received, CCES mails you and the other parent a notice that the Application Fee is due. You have 14 days from the date on the reminder letter to pay the application fee. If both parents fail to pay within 14 days, the case remains "unopened" and the court and both attorneys are notified. If either party does not pay, the other spouse can still proceed alone, but both fees must eventually be paid for the evaluation to begin.
If you miss the 14-day deadline but pay within 6 months, the case can be reopened automatically. After 6 months, you must start the process over with a new Referral Form, new Consent & Waiver Form, and a new Application Fee.
Once both application fees are received, the CCES director assigns an evaluator to your case. The evaluator has 72 hours to contact both parents to schedule the first appointment. You must confirm availability within 72 hours. If you do not confirm, the appointment will not be held open.
The entire process is designed to be completed within 6-8 weeks from the initial session. Evaluations proceed at the rate of 1-2 appointments per week. The parties meet jointly with the evaluator on 3 occasions. The evaluator submits the report to the court within 45 days after the last session.
For most families, this timeline is tight but achievable. You must commit to attending appointments on the schedule the evaluator sets.
Session 1: Each parent meets individually with the evaluator. This is a lengthy interview (typically 90 minutes or more) where you discuss your concerns about custody, your relationship with the child(ren), your co-parenting strengths and weaknesses, your mental and physical health, your employment situation, and your parenting history.
Session 2: Both parents meet jointly with the evaluator. This session reviews disputed issues and focuses on co-parenting skills. The evaluator observes how the parents interact and whether they can discuss the child's needs without hostility.
Session 3 (with children): Each child of appropriate age meets individually with the evaluator. The child may also be interviewed with siblings or with parents present, depending on the evaluator's judgment. The evaluator assesses the child's adjustment, preferences, relationships with each parent, and special needs.
Session 4 (second joint session): Both parents meet again with the evaluator to review the evaluator's initial findings regarding the children.
Session 5 (collateral participants, if needed): Grandparents, step-parents, or other significant individuals may be interviewed if the evaluator deems it necessary.
Final session: The evaluator summarizes findings and works with the parents to develop a Parenting Plan. If the parents agree on a plan, the evaluator documents the agreement. If they do not agree, the evaluator's final recommendations become part of the report.
The CCES evaluation examines:
Psychological testing is not routine but may be used at the evaluator's discretion if mental health issues are suspected. Home studies may also be conducted if necessary.
CCES fees are set by the Director. Payment in full is due at the first session, OR one-half at the first session and the balance at the second (first joint) session. No other payment arrangement is possible.
Additional fees apply for: extra children, collateral participants (grandparents, step-parents), extra sessions, extended phone consultations, review of extensive records, compacted or expedited evaluations, and relocation evaluations.
Parties may qualify for a subsidy based on income level. You must request a subsidy at the custody conference or hearing. Income-reporting forms are provided by the Custody Conference Officer. The court, not CCES, determines subsidy eligibility.
If you miss an appointment without 48 hours' notice, you are charged at the prevailing hourly rate. Third-party (insurance) payments are not accepted. All checks must be payable to the assigned evaluator, not to CCES. There is a $25 surcharge for checks returned by the bank.
CCES has strict rules about communications:
CCES Reports Are Powerful
The evaluator's report carries significant weight with the court. Judges respect the evaluator's neutral assessment, especially regarding parental fitness and the child's best interests. Cooperation and honesty during the evaluation are critical.
Documentation: Bring school reports for the last 3 years, school evaluations, previous psychological or psychiatric evaluations, and any other relevant records. Personal diaries, email correspondence, and police reports are less helpful and may not be reviewed. Audio and video tapes generally are not reviewed.
Financial support: Be prepared to discuss your financial situation, income, and ability to support the children.
Parenting history: Know the details of your parenting history: who took the child to appointments, who helped with homework, who handled discipline, who organized activities.
Honesty: Be honest about substance abuse, mental health issues, conflicts with the other parent, and your own weaknesses. The evaluator will find out the truth eventually, and dishonesty undermines your credibility.
Child-focused answers: Frame your responses around what is best for the child, not what is best for you. Courts (and evaluators) are skeptical of parents who seem motivated purely by adult convenience or animosity toward the other parent.
If you and the other parent reach agreement during the CCES process, the evaluator documents the Agreed-Upon Parenting Plan. Both attorneys then file a Consent Order with the court, and the parenting plan becomes the custody order without further hearing.
If you do not reach agreement, the evaluator issues a Recommended Parenting Plan based on the evaluation. This recommendation is sent to the court and both attorneys. The report is highly influential. Most judges follow the evaluator's recommendation, though you retain the right to request a hearing if you disagree fundamentally with the recommendation.
If the evaluation begins but is not completed (for example, if one parent stops attending), the case is designated "incomplete." Both parties then have 3 months to resume with the same evaluator by notifying the evaluator in writing. If you resume, you must pay remaining fees plus fees for additional hours to update information.
After 3 months, you must start the process over: new Referral Form, new Consent & Waiver, new Application Fee, full evaluation fee, and potentially a new evaluator.
In our practice, we've found that parents who succeed in CCES are those who: (1) cooperate with the timeline, (2) are honest about their strengths and weaknesses, (3) focus on the child's needs rather than winning, (4) show genuine interest in co-parenting, and (5) arrive at sessions prepared and on time.
Parents who struggle are those who: (1) miss appointments, (2) are dishonest or evasive, (3) focus on attacking the other parent, (4) resist the evaluator's process, or (5) fail to cooperate with the child's interviews.
The CCES process is not a trial. There is no "winning." But for families in Bucks County, it is often the most efficient and least adversarial path to a custody order.
Information on this page was last verified against CCES policies and procedures: March 2026 . CCES policies may change. Contact CCES directly at 267-742-3089 or ccesbucks@gmail.com for current information.
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