The increasing visibility of child abuse and domestic assault presents many challenges, including parental requests to examine children for signs of sexual abuse, subpoenas from attorneys to testify in court in conflicts about child custody, invitations to consult to child care programs about how to protect children from victimization, and telephone calls from school personnel to whom students have disclosed child sexual abuse. The orderly and systematic assessment of allegations and reports of victimization is central to the health professional's role. Several principles for conducting this assessment have developed in recent years, based on an understanding of the current context of domestic assault and a review of the techniques and ethics of communication with parents, children, and other members of the professional community. Clinicians should maintain a thoughtful and skeptical approach to the data; display warmth, calm, and respect to everyone involved in the case; and express their views with care and brevity to ensure good information and excellent management. Specific guidelines and 19 references