Michael Kerner, PhD

Dr. Kerner’s evaluation was professional, thorough, and fair. He showed genuine concern for the child. He was not fooled by the false fronts and posturing put on. His judgement was sound and based on what was in the best interest of the child.

I would give Dr. Kerner, and his staff, 100 stars if I could. Dr. Kerner worked with my family in a very challenging and complicated custody case. Custody disputes are often long, emotionally draining, weighty, scary, wrought with uncertainly and conflict, and likely one of the most challenging experiences any parent will endure with regards to their child (ren). During such a crisis, people need compassion, caring, understanding, and to know that professionals handling the custody evaluation have it together, can be counted on, and will ultimately make decisions in the best interest of the child (ren). Custody disputes are bad enough, adding the stress of incompetent evaluators could be absolute crazy-​making. That is why I strongly recommend Dr. Michael Kerner should you need a custody evaluator.
Administratively, his office is run professionally, they respond to communications promptly and with care, they work well with attorneys as well as parents, they are on time with appointments, follow-​up with contacts, help coordinate home/​school visits, keep you informed about where in the process you are, and most importantly, try their best to complete each evaluation in 60 days. My attorney has clients waiting almost a YEAR for the completion of a basic evaluation! I can not imagine the added stress that would cause in an already strained situation! Dr. Kerner’s reports are very thorough, well researched and written, complete, and leave no stone unturned. His recommendations for visitation is fair, unbiased, and always what is truly in the best interest of the child (ren) in question.
Dr. Kerner and his staff made going through this stressful experience as manageable as possible. I always felt listened to, trusted Dr. Kerner’s observations, and was impressed with his interactions with my young child. Dr. Kerner is an astute man, with significant practical experience and a CV that would impress anyone. More than his work accomplishments, his gentle and approachable nature make him easy to talk to. He was well received by all of those in my family who had the opportunity to speak with him. Dr. Kerner, with his 25+ years of experience in custody work, truly knows what to look for in terms of family relationships. He understands what familial behaviors are most damaging to children and he can identify red-​flags in such a way that a less experiences evaluator might miss. Dr. Kerner saw patterns and identified issues without having to be told about them, as his extensive experience gave him so much insight.
In all custody situations, there will be one party that will be pleased with an outcome, and one party that will be less than pleased. I was impressed with the compassion that Dr. Kerner showed to me and to my child’s father throughout this process. He made no assumptions about us and allowed us to tell him what was going on, from our own experiences. He made a recommendation to the court based on what he saw and learned, not on what I wanted or my former partner wanted, but what was best for our child.
Dr. Kerner was asked to testify in court for our case and he was prompt, professional, and articulate when taking the stand. The judge appreciated his extensive background and expertise and truly listened to his reasoning for coming to his recommendation. His concrete knowledge of current case law allows him to understand how his recommendations will be read and interpreted by the courts. This legal familiarity is a tremendous asset while navigating the court process.
Though not the most economical of evaluators out there, he provided the best possible service one could ask for. The adage of «you get what you pay for» rings true here. Dr. Kerner and his staff seem incapable of a half-​assed job, and go above and beyond to get it right. If you find yourself in a custody challenge, isn’t knowing that the most experienced professional possible will determine and recommend what is truly in the best interest of your child (ren) worth any cost? I think so, and in fact, I can’t think of anything worth more.
I recommend Dr. Michael Kerner whole-​heartedly and without hesitation.

Michael Kerner is an outstanding psychologist. Very compassionate, very smart. His advice is always very well thought out and well considered. His feet are totally on the ground. He cares about his patients and is not just a money guy. High integrity and highest ethical standards. There are lots of bright psychologists around but this man has a heart, too. Highest possible recommendation.