A true Social Early Neutral Evaluation (SENE) is a rather formal process, which is different from FENE or standard mediation. Since there is a lot of ground to cover in a SENE, a session is normally scheduled for four hours.

The SENE session usually starts with a brief introduction by the evaluators. Then each parent will have an opportunity to talk for about 20 to 30 minutes. This presentation will include the history of the relationship between the parents, the circumstances surrounding the birth of their child or children, the roles that each parent had or has in raising the children, the likes/dislikes of the children, any concerns that each parent may have regarding the other parent and the parent’s proposed custody and parenting time schedule. Each parent will then have an opportunity to respond to the other parent’s initial statement. The two evaluators will then ask any questions or other follow-up that may not have been answered in the statements from the parents. Then the evaluators will meet separately and decide specific feedback, opinions and recommendations on legal custody, physical custody, a parenting time schedule and any other parenting issues that require attention. The evaluators will then rejoin the session with the parents (and their attorneys, if any) and discuss their evaluative recommendations with the parents. At that point, the session normally involves a discussion on whether the parents agree or disagree with the evaluative recommendations or whether they may simply want to slightly modify the recommendations. If the parents reach a full or partial agreement, that agreement is usually reduced to writing that is signed by the parents.

If a signed agreement can be reached, then the agreement must be incorporated into a Stipulation and Order to be filed with the Court. There is great value in the SENE process, because it can avoid the cost of custody litigation and expensive custody evaluations.