Interdisciplinary child custody dispute resolution in Slovakia: Innovation without safeguards?

Abstract Slovakia introduced a multidisciplinary approach (MAC), inspired by the German Cochem model, to promote interdisciplinary coordination and parental agreements in child custody disputes. However, the national MAC methodology addresses domestic violence/intimate partner violence (DV/IPV) only marginally and does not structurally integrate screening and triage at case entry. This design is further complicated by policy discourse in which “parental alienation” narratives have gained visibility and have, at times, been linked to skepticism toward DV/IPV allegations. Using a mixed legal and social science approach, this article examines the Slovak MAC model and analyzes how missing safeguards can increase risks for victims and children in custody proceedings. It combines a documentary review of legislation and official methodologies with Slovak qualitative evidence on the experiences of DV/IPV‐affected families and an English‐language peer‐reviewed analysis of custody‐related legal abuse. These sources are used illustratively rather than as prevalence estimates. The Slovak case study highlights the limits of agreement‐oriented interdisciplinary models when universal screening and triage are absent from the primary process. It concludes with a reform roadmap aligned with international best‐practice frameworks and EU Directive 2024/1385, emphasizing universal screening, risk‐based triage, and protective pathways for DV/IPV‐affected cases.