Can I Ask the Court to Order a Psychological Exam for My Ex? Artwork

Love Court Off the Record

In the podcast, Love Court Off The Record, we look at specific legal questions regarding all family law matters. From child custody to child support to divorce. We also take a humorous look at divorce. It does make people go crazy!!

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Love Court Off the Record

Can I Ask the Court to Order a Psychological Exam for My Ex?

January 05, 2026 • Anderson Keuscher Brachmann

0:00 | 3:11

The Question:

“ I feel awful even asking this, but I’m genuinely concerned. My ex has been acting very erratically—sending dozens of messages a day, showing up unannounced, making paranoid accusations, and saying things that don’t make sense. The kids are starting to notice and it’s affecting them. Can I ask the court to order a psychological exam, and if the judge agrees, does that automatically mean my ex will lose custody or parenting time?”

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In this episode of Love Court, divorce attorney Jessica Anderson addresses a sensitive listener question: what happens when a co-parent begins showing signs of unstable behavior that’s impacting the children? From erratic messages to unannounced visits and paranoid accusations, the situation has become distressing. Jessica explains how and when a court may order a psychological evaluation, what the process looks like, and whether that automatically leads to a change in custody or parenting time.