Screenwriter Helmreich and Psychologist Marcus, the latter a longtime court insider who has witnessed untold trauma as an evaluator in custody disputes, present us with a book that is shocking, tragic and ultimately enlightening. The authors present in-depth understanding of the havoc child custody disputes can wreak not only on the couple but, more importantly, on the children. Harshly detailed, we come to know through this text the personal motivations and behaviors that end up devastating lives. Here, parents can learn what to do, and what not to do, to avoid bitter tragedy in such cases. Judges, lawyers, guardians and mediators will also find this book enormously educational and useful.

The ten cases in this book have been culled from years of experience as a court-appointed child custody evaluator. Commentaries at the end of each chapter offer analyses and concrete, practical information for parents in similar situations.