Requests for examination of parental capacity are likely to come from members of the legal professions. Assessment of parenting is a complex task that may require training and expertise in child development, attachment, parental and child psychopathology, measures and methods, structured and unstructured observation, questionnaires and scales. The use of formal tests is one area in which psychologists are in a unique position to assist the court. A simple task like asking the child to write or, if too young, to describe three good things about mum and three things they don't like about mum, and the same task repeated with dad as the subject, may show whether the child can be discriminating in forming views based on his or her own experience. In making recommendations, psychologists should be careful to stay within the remit of their task, which is to evaluate the possible options for child care and contact.