From time to time a client will come to me, excited that he or she has figured out a sure-fire way to win custody, because he or she has personally diagnosed the spouse with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), Parental Alienation Syndrome (PAS), or some other mental illness.

Unfortunately, nobody is going to take your word for it. For such an argument to carry any weight whatsoever, you will have to obtain a diagnosis from a qualified professional. This normally is accomplished through the custody evaluation process. Other times, you may need to hire your own expert.

* THE INFORMATION IN THIS ARTICLE IS NOT ADVICE FOR YOUR PARTICULAR CASE. FOR GUIDANCE ON YOUR SITUATION, CONSULT WITH ERIC C. NELSON, ATTORNEY. ALSO, THIS INFORMATION APPLIES ONLY TO MINNESOTA LAW, AND NOT TO THE LAW OF ANY OTHER STATE OR COUNTRY.