Child custody disputes can be the most contentious civil actions heard by a court. These cases are also extremely fact sensitive, and they frequently become a "he said/she said" contest between mothers and fathers with vastly different versions of past events and behavior. One way to assist counsel in a custody case is for the parent to maintain a custody journal. Once possible litigiation appears on the horizon, a parent should immediately prepare a written summary of what has already transpired and then maintain a journal summarizing custody exchanges, contacts with the other parent, and all other relevant events. A custody journal will help your recall important dates with specificity and will help you when you testify in court about your case. Having specific information and fact summaries, as opposed to only vague and possibly incorrect recollections, will make you appear more credible to the court.
