TN SB1987

Courts must order expert evaluations of children in contested proceedings where a guardian ad litem (GAL) is appointed, unless the court finds in writing that an evaluation is unnecessary to determine the child's best interests

Qualified examiners include medical doctors, psychiatrists, psychologists, licensed clinical social workers, licensed professional counselors with mental health designation, or other authorized mental health professionals

Expert reports must be sworn and include the child's medical/psychological history, current mental and physical condition (including symptoms of trauma, coercion, alienation, or undue influence), and treatment recommendations with clinical basis

Sworn expert reports constitute prima facie evidence of the child's condition and best-interest factors, rebuttable by competent evidence or showing the report is incomplete, inaccurate, or unreliable

GALs must consider expert reports when making recommendations, and if their recommendation materially departs from the expert's conclusions, they must explain the basis in writing or on the record; examination costs are allocated among parties based on ability to pay