Expert Witness
Dr. Richard Warshak is internationally recognized for his work on child custody, parental alienation, and child development. He has served as an expert witness in custody, trauma, and related matters for courts and attorneys worldwide.
When not serving as a court-appointed expert, Dr. Warshak has been retained by attorneys representing mothers and fathers in approximately equal numbers. His opinions are grounded in decades of clinical experience, scholarship, and peer-reviewed research.
Current Expert Witness Practice
After nearly four decades of expert witness work, Dr. Warshak now limits testifying engagements to exceptionally rare circumstances.
Since 2015, Dr. Warshak has testified only twice, and he has not testified at all since 2019. His most recent testimony in a parental alienation matter occurred in 2015, and his last testimony in Canada was in 2019 concerning parenting plans for a young child.
He does not rule out the possibility of future testimony, but only where the issues presented align closely with his specialized expertise and where testimony would add substantial value to the court.
In rare cases, expert testimony may be considered on matters such as:
- Parenting plans for infants and young children
- Domestic or international relocation disputes
- Research-based analysis of parental alienation dynamics
- Methodological concerns in prior custody evaluations
Trial Consultation (Non-Testifying)
In contrast to expert testimony, Dr. Warshak more frequently provides non-testifying trial consultation to attorneys.
Trial consultation allows counsel to benefit from Dr. Warshak’s expertise without his appearance as a witness. This work focuses on strategy, interpretation of psychological evidence, and research-informed guidance.
Learn more about this service here:
Litigation-Related Consultations
How to Inquire
E-mail Dr. Warshak to request further information regarding consultation policies, fees, and availability. If litigation is pending, include the names of the litigants/case and the names of all attorneys and mental health professionals involved. Other than names, avoid case specifics until a conflict check is completed and Dr. Warshak’s services have been retained.