A California Order Appointing Child Custody Evaluator (COME) is an order issued by a court of law that appoints a qualified mental health professional to evaluate the best interest of a child in a child custody dispute. The COME serves to assess the family dynamics of the parties involved, provide recommendations for custody and visitation, and offer a neutral opinion in order to help the court make an informed decision in the matter. There are two main types of Comes in California. The first is a Pre-Trial COME, which is ordered by the court prior to a trial. This allows the parties to gain a better understanding of the issues at hand and also allows the court to make more informed decisions. The second type of COME is a Post-Trial COME, which is ordered by the court after the trial has been concluded. This is done in order to provide additional information to the court and to ensure that any changes in the family dynamics are taken into account.