Independent mental health and forensic evaluations for courts, attorneys, and agencies across West Texas — conducted with precision, documented with care, and delivered without bias.
Lone Star Forensic Assessment Services, PLLC provides independent mental health and forensic evaluation services to the courts, legal professionals, and agencies of West Texas. The practice was founded on a single principle: that courts deserve evaluations that are thorough, evidence-based, and free from advocacy bias.
The practice is led by Holly Waddell, MEd., LPC-S, LSOTP, a Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor and Licensed Sex Offender Treatment Professional with extensive experience conducting mental health and forensic evaluations in family law and criminal contexts across West Texas. With deep roots in the region and a commitment to professional rigor, Lone Star Forensic Assessment Services, PLLC brings exacting standards to every court-ordered evaluation.
Evaluations are conducted in Lubbock with travel available across the service region. All reports are prepared to meet the standards of Texas courts and applicable professional guidelines.
MEd. — Texas Tech University
[Additional degrees as applicable]
Child Custody Evaluation — [Training Program]
Forensic Mental Health Assessment
Court-Involved Family Services
Each evaluation is tailored to the specific referral question and conducted in accordance with professional ethical standards and applicable Texas statutes.
Comprehensive court-ordered evaluations addressing conservatorship, possession and access, and the best interest of the child in contested family law proceedings. Conducted per Tex. Fam. Code § 107.109.
Court-ordered mental health evaluations addressing a referred party's current functioning, diagnosis, treatment needs, and clinical recommendations — for use in family law, criminal, and civil proceedings.
Court-requested forensic evaluations addressing specific legal questions, including risk assessment, competency-related referrals within LPC scope, and other court-ordered clinical evaluations.
Clinical evaluation of substance use history, current status, and treatment needs for court-involved individuals — frequently requested in family law, CPS, and criminal matters.
Risk assessment and treatment amenability evaluations conducted by a Licensed Sex Offender Treatment Professional (LSOTP). Includes pre-sentence evaluations, treatment readiness assessments, and other court-ordered evaluations under Texas law.
Independent review of evaluation reports, records, and other work product prepared by other evaluators — providing attorneys and courts with an objective critique of methodology, findings, and conclusions.
Consultation services for attorneys preparing for trial, including case strategy, review of opposing expert opinions, deposition preparation, and expert witness testimony in court proceedings.
Fees are split equally between the parties unless the court order specifies otherwise. Full payment is required prior to commencement of the evaluation.
| Service | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base Child Custody Evaluation Includes up to 5 interviews, records review, standardized assessments (if indicated), and written report |
$4,000 | Due in full prior to scheduling |
| Additional Interviews Each interview beyond the initial five |
$250/interview | Billed per interview; parties notified in advance |
| Court Testimony — Retainer 4-hour nonrefundable retainer, due 7 days prior to scheduled court date |
$1,400 (4 hrs) | Nonrefundable — applies even if case settles after payment |
| Court Testimony — Hourly Rate Time exceeding 4 hours; invoiced post-testimony |
$350/hour | Includes wait time and preparation on day of testimony |
| Deposition Testimony 2-hour minimum, payable in advance |
$350/hour | 2-hour minimum charge |
| Travel — Outside Lubbock County | Varies | Confirm fees prior to referral |
Attorney, court, or agency submits a referral identifying the referral question, jurisdiction, and relevant case background.
Relevant records are gathered and reviewed. Scheduling of clinical interviews and assessments is confirmed with all parties.
Clinical interviews, standardized assessments, and collateral contacts are conducted according to the referral question and scope of the court order.
A written report is delivered to the retaining party or court. Expert testimony is available upon request.
Lone Star Forensic Assessment Services, PLLC maintains strict independence. Evaluations are conducted as a neutral, court-appointed expert or pursuant to agreed order — not as a retained advocate for either party.
Reports address the referral question with specificity, cite the empirical literature where relevant, and are written to be understandable to the trier of fact.
Attorney consultation prior to referral is available at no charge to help clarify scope, turnaround expectations, and fee structure.
The practice is based in Lubbock and provides evaluation services throughout West Texas.
Evaluations are conducted in person at the Lubbock office. Remote evaluation components (collateral interviews, attorney consultations) are available by secure videoconference where appropriate.
Please note: Evaluations conducted outside of Lubbock County are subject to applicable travel fees. Contact the office prior to referral to confirm availability and applicable travel fees.
Initial inquiries from attorneys, courts, and agencies are welcome. All communications are treated as confidential pending establishment of a formal evaluation relationship.