Casewellcustody andco-parenting blog
Field notes, statistics and practical advice for parents keeping records through separation, mediation and court.
44 articlesFree to readUS terms
every articlearticles and step-by-step guides, free to read
01
How to document a missed handover factuallyDocument a missed handover with factual wording, evidence labels, a realistic annotated entry, and a chronology that preserves context.
02
What to record in a custody journalA practical custody-journal contents checklist with inclusion rules, realistic entries, evidence references and a monthly chronology method.
03
How to prepare custody records for your lawyer or solicitorPrepare a focused custody-record review pack with an issue list, chronology, question sheet, evidence index and transparent gaps for a lawyer or solicitor.
04
Custody journal vs notes app: when notes stop being enoughPlenty of parents start custody documentation in Apple Notes or Google Docs. Here's what a notes app does fine, where it breaks down, and when a dedicated custody journal earns its keep.
05
How to document co-parenting: the complete methodA complete co-parenting documentation method with a two-minute record template, factual rewrites, evidence rules, and a chronology workflow.
06
Custody journal examples: five entries done rightFive worked custody journal examples, from a late pickup to a money dispute and a neutral day, with every wording choice explained.
07
How to organize custody evidenceOrganize custody evidence with an issue map, master index, chronology, source files and a review workflow that keeps relevant material easy to find.
08
How to organize text messages for custody evidencePreserve custody-related text messages with sender, date, surrounding context, originals, issue tags and chronology references instead of isolated screenshots.
09
How to prove parenting timeHow to prove parenting time actually exercised: the scheduled-vs-actual log, third-party corroboration from schools and activities, and how overnights get counted.
10
Documenting high-conflict co-parenting without becoming part of itA field guide to high-conflict co-parenting documentation: brief factual replies, parallel parenting, logging provocation without absorbing it, and keeping the record clean.
11
How to document parental alienationHow to document suspected parental alienation credibly: record specific dated behaviors rather than the label, involve professionals early, and avoid the mistakes that discredit real concerns.
12
How to prepare records for custody mediationPrepare a custody mediation working pack with issues, child-focused interests, options, practical facts, proposals and an agreement log rather than an evidence dump.
13
How to prepare records for a guardian ad litemPrepare child-focused records for a guardian ad litem or Children's Guardian with a role check, routine map, selective chronology and transparent source index.
14
Custody terms, translated into plain EnglishPlain-English definitions of the custody terms parents actually encounter: legal vs physical custody, parenting time, right of first refusal, guardian ad litem, ex parte, and more.
15
How to document late or missed child support paymentsHow to document late, missed or partial child support payments with due dates, amounts, proof and a running payment history.
16
How to log denied or withheld visitationLog denied or withheld visitation with the schedule source, proof made at the time, cancelled visits, make-up time and neutral wording for withholding.
17
How to document custody order violationsDocument custody order violations by linking the order term, actual event, evidence, response, impact and professional-review question.
18
How to record verbal co-parenting agreementsTurn a spoken co-parenting arrangement into a clear written confirmation with a copyable message, version history and disagreement workflow.
19
How to track shared child expenses after divorceA simple way to track shared child expenses after divorce with receipts, reimbursement status, messages and a clear running record.
20
How to write a factual co-parenting incident reportWrite a useful co-parenting incident report with a copyable template, event-versus-interpretation test and annotated factual rewrite.
21
How to keep a useful co-parenting communication logBuild a communication log that tracks requests, responses, decisions and originals without turning every message into an incident.
22
How to document parenting time exchangesRecord parenting time exchanges with scheduled time, actual time, place, messages and issues so patterns are clear without emotional wording.
23
What counts as evidence in a child custody case?Learn which records may matter in a US child custody case, what each can and cannot show, and how to preserve texts, photos, schedules, school records, medical records and expenses.
24
What do judges look for in US child custody cases?Understand common US child-custody factors and see how California, New York, Texas and Florida use different laws, terms and starting points.
25
Right of first refusal in child custody: meaning, examples and what to recordLearn what a right-of-first-refusal childcare clause may mean, what details control it, common examples, and how to keep a clear factual record.
26
How to keep useful records in high-conflict co-parentingA selective high-conflict co-parenting record system focused on child impact, patterns, boundaries, safety and an organised chronology.
27
Custody documentation mistakes to avoidTen custody-documentation mistakes with practical fixes, factual rewrites and a pre-save checklist for stronger co-parenting records.
28
A practical co-parenting boundaries checklistA plain co-parenting boundaries checklist for communication, schedule changes, expenses and child-focused records.
29
What to look for in a custody exchange tracking appHow to choose a custody exchange tracking app that records scheduled time, actual time, messages, evidence and clean exports.
30
How to keep a contact log for family courtA practical contact log for family court: planned contact, actual contact, missed time, communication, evidence and review-ready exports.
31
Custody evidence checklist: collect, verify and organizeA custody evidence checklist that separates collection, verification, indexing, chronology and professional review instead of producing an evidence dump.
32
How to organize records for a custody modificationOrganize custody modification records around the existing order, dated change, child-related impact, attempted response and supporting sources.
33
How to organize photo and video evidence in custody casesPreserve photo and video evidence with originals, dates, context, metadata notes, event links and professional-review limits.
34
Call logs, voicemail and recording law in US custody casesFederal law sets a one-party floor, about a dozen states go past it, and two different suppression rules apply. What that means for a call log in a custody case in the US.
35
How to organize school records in custody casesOrganize school records for custody preparation: attendance, lateness, teacher emails, pickup records, activities, source context and review packs.
36
How to organize medical records in custody casesOrganize medical records for custody preparation: appointments, instructions, medication, communication, expenses, privacy and review-ready exports.
37
What Stops Successful Co-Parenting? US Statistics on Conflict and CooperationUS co-parenting statistics show how separate households, support arrangements and conflict complicate cooperation鈥攁nd how private records can help.
38
How Much Does Co-Parenting Cost? US Statistics on Expenses Across Two HomesUS co-parenting expense statistics show the child-support gap, duplicated costs and why shared parenting has no single national price.
39
How Long Does a Child Custody Case Take? US Court Data ExplainedUS child custody case timelines vary by state. Learn what courts measure, why there is no national average and how to maintain an ongoing case record.
40
Co-parent harassment: examples and how to document themExamples of co-parent harassment, which details belong in a written record, and how to log repeated contact, threats and pressure factually.
41
When a co-parent makes false accusationsHow to answer false accusations in a custody case with dated records: capture the exact claim, gather material created at the time, keep your reply factual.
42
What happens when a parent misses visitationWhat to do when the other parent doesn't show up for their parenting time: how to record no-shows, track the pattern, and keep the effect on your child factual.
43
How to print text messages for courtPrint text messages for court from an iPhone or Android: what each page must show, four ways to print, how to make a PDF and how to label the pages.
44
How to export a WhatsApp chat for courtExport a WhatsApp chat for court on iPhone or Android, what the file includes, why export can be switched off and how to print it with screenshots.
questions parents ask
Do I need an attorney to use these?
No. Many parents handle custody matters pro se, and most family courts run self-help centers. Organized, dated records help you present what happened clearly, whether you hire counsel or represent yourself.
What does a custody evaluator look at?
Evaluators and guardians ad litem look at routines, each parent's involvement and how the child is doing. They read quickly, so one factual entry per event, with the date and source, beats pages of narrative.
Is mediation required before a custody hearing?
It depends on the state and county. California, for example, requires custody mediation before a hearing, while other courts order it case by case. Domestic violence often changes the rules, so check with your local court.
Why does my state use different words?
Custody law is state law. Some states say legal and physical custody with visitation; others say parenting time and decision-making. Match your records to the wording in your own order or parenting plan.
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