If you’re here, chances are you’re asking a terrifying question:
“If I leave… will this turn into a custody nightmare?”
Maybe things have been tense for a while.
Maybe there’s manipulation.
Maybe there’s charm in public and chaos in private.
Maybe your nervous system is already on high alert.
And you don’t want to overreact.
But you also don’t want to walk blindly into something that could affect your children for years.
The High-Conflict Court Case Risk-Index (HCC-RI) is a self-assessment designed to help you pause, evaluate, and think clearly before making major legal moves.
It does not predict the future.
It does not diagnose anyone.
It does not tell you what to do.
Instead, it helps you:
• Identify controlling behavior patterns commonly associated with high-conflict custody litigation
• Recognize behaviors that tend to escalate after separation
• Understand whether your situation carries higher court-related risk
• Make decisions from clarity instead of panic
For many protective parents, the hardest part is not knowing.
Not knowing if you’re being dramatic.
Not knowing if your concerns are valid.
Not knowing if divorce will bring relief… or retaliation.
The HCC-RI gives you a framework to evaluate risk so you can move forward with your eyes open — whether that means preparing more carefully, gathering support, or simply regulating your nervous system before taking the next step.
Because preparation is not paranoia. It’s wisdom.
"The High-Conflict Court Case Risk Index (HCC-RI) is an excellent assessment tool for anyone who is considering or facing separation or divorce from a person who has been unsafe in their marriage."
IF... you’re considering separation or divorce — and your stomach drops when you imagine custody court...
IF... you’ve seen flashes of:
• Sudden charm when outsiders are watching
• Blame-shifting and reality-twisting during conflict
• Threats about “taking the kids”
• Financial control or intimidation
• A pattern of escalating behavior when you assert boundaries
IF... you’re not sure if it’s “bad enough.” But you know it’s not healthy...
Then this is for you.
• Feel uneasy but can’t fully explain why
• Are worried separation may trigger retaliation
• Have a co-parent who cares deeply about image and control
• Want to protect their children without making reckless moves
• Need clarity before filing anything with the court
It may also help if:
• You’re constantly asking yourself, “Am I overreacting?”
• You’re exhausted from walking on eggshells
• You're terrified of the fallout on your kids
• You want to prepare wisely instead of reacting emotionally
The HCC-RI is not for parents in low-conflict, cooperative separations.
It’s for protective parents who sense that once court is involved, things may not stay calm.
If your nervous system already feels braced for impact… this tool was created with you in mind.
Because thoughtful preparation is not fear-based. It’s protective.
You just need more clarity than you had yesterday.... and information changes everything.
"As an advocate at a domestic violence agency, the HCC-RI is an incredible resource for those who wish to navigate separation and divorce. Every professional needs this resource at their fingertips!"
"Every coach and therapist who deals with broken intimate relationships needs this in their toolbox! The HCC-RI is a tremendous resource for the uncharted waters of impending separation and divorce - especially for clients with minor children."
"I've never seen a high-conflict assessment tool this thoughtful, practical, and genuinely usable. As someone who works directly with survivors of abuse — especially those navigating court systems — I cannot overstate how important the HCC-RI is!"
"As a clinician, I especially appreciate the HCC-RI's clear objectives and directives as well as therapeutic guidance for supporting the client with the information gathered."
"The High Conflict Court - Risk Index is invaluable for engaging clients in supportive, collaborative conversations as they navigate the intensity of high-conflict court cases."
“The HCC-RI is one of the most grounded, trauma-informed, and court-aware referral ecosystems I’ve seen.”
Author of Safe Church + founder of Christian Counseling Center
important:
The HCC-RI is a risk awareness screener designed to help protective parents identify systemic and relational stressors that may intensify conflict during separation/divorce following betrayal trauma, domestic violence, or abuse.
It does not assess or predict legal outcomes, parental fitness, personality pathology, or credibility of allegations.