What should I bring to a child custody pre-trial?

Seeking Advice
1

Hey everyone, I have a child custody pre-trial coming up soon, and I’m kind of stressed about what to bring. I want to make sure I have everything I need to present my case well. I’ve heard there are a lot of important documents and stuff you should have with you. Has anyone been through this before? What did you bring that was helpful? Any tips would be appreciated.

2

I’ve been through it, and it’s definitely important to be prepared. You should bring documents showing your relationship with the child, like school records or anything that proves you’re involved in their life.

3

@Kaji
That makes sense. Should I also have any financial documents ready?

4

Fenn said:
@Kaji
That makes sense. Should I also have any financial documents ready?

Absolutely! Bring income statements and proof of child support payments if applicable. It shows you’re financially stable.

5

Don’t forget to have a parenting plan ready. It helps to outline how you want things to go regarding custody and visitation.

6

Junita said:
Don’t forget to have a parenting plan ready. It helps to outline how you want things to go regarding custody and visitation.

What do you mean by a parenting plan? Is there a specific format I should follow?

7

@Raleigh
A parenting plan is just a document that outlines how you want to handle custody and visitation. It doesn’t have to be super formal, just clear and detailed about your proposals.

8

Communication records are also good to have, like any texts or emails between you and the other parent. It can show how you’ve handled things.

9

Fionn said:
Communication records are also good to have, like any texts or emails between you and the other parent. It can show how you’ve handled things.

Got it. Should I bring character references too?

10

@Kinsley
Yes, definitely. Letters from friends or family speaking to your parenting skills can be really helpful.

11

Make sure to have any legal documents you’ve filed. Things like previous court orders or motions can be important to reference.

12

Aria said:
Make sure to have any legal documents you’ve filed. Things like previous court orders or motions can be important to reference.

This is really helpful. Is there anything else I should consider?

13

@Yara
Just remember to stay organized. Having everything in a binder or folder can really help when you’re there.