Capacity Evaluations
Our team provides thorough neuropsychological and psychological evaluations of decision-making capacity for legal and personal planning purposes. We assess the ability to make informed, reasoned decisions across multiple domains, offering clear, evidence-based documentation for attorneys, courts, trustees, and other decision-makers.
Our assessments carefully weigh an individual’s right to autonomy against potential risks to safety or well-being. This ensures that recommendations respect personal independence while identifying areas where support or supervision may be appropriate
What We Evaluate
Types of Capacity Assessed
We evaluate a range of decision-making abilities, including:
Financial Capacity – understanding and managing personal finances, banking, investments, and financial obligations.
General Decision-Making Capacity – the ability to understand, appreciate, and reason about everyday decisions affecting personal, legal, and financial matters.
Testamentary Capacity – the ability to make or revise a will, understanding the nature and extent of assets, and recognizing potential beneficiaries.
Contractual and Legal Capacity – understanding and entering into contracts, agreements, and other legal transactions.
Neuropsychological and Psychological Assessment
Evaluations incorporate cognitive testing, executive function assessment, memory evaluation, and behavioral measures, providing a detailed profile of decision-making strengths and vulnerabilities. Psychological factors that may affect judgment, such as mood, anxiety, or stress, are also assessed to provide a comprehensive understanding of capacity.
Assessment of Undue Influence
Evaluations include careful consideration of undue influence, which occurs when another person manipulates or pressures an individual to act against their own interests. We document objective evidence of susceptibility to influence, helping attorneys and courts understand the context and validity of decisions.
Functional Impact Analysis
Capacity evaluations document how cognitive and emotional functioning influences real-world decision-making, providing clear, actionable findings for legal or personal planning purposes.
Scope and Flexibility
Rigorous and Evidence-Based
All evaluations are standardized, scientifically rigorous, and designed to meet high professional and legal standards. Reports are clear, thorough, and defensible under legal scrutiny.
In-Person and Travel Options
Evaluations are primarily conducted in our offices in Westborough, MA. Our clinicians may travel to client residences, law offices, or other approved sites when necessary.
Clear, Actionable Reporting
Reports summarize findings, provide diagnostic impressions, and include detailed recommendations. They are structured to assist attorneys, courts, trustees, and other decision-makers in understanding the individual’s functional capacity.
Why Choose Our Team
Our combined expertise in neuropsychology and clinical psychology ensures that capacity evaluations are scientifically sound, legally defensible, and focused on real-world functioning. Attorneys and organizations rely on our assessments for clear, authoritative, and actionable evaluations of financial, legal, and decision-making capacity, including issues related to autonomy, safety, and undue influence
