Crisis support: call or text 988Educational legal information & peer support — not formal legal advice or therapy.
A Father's Fight

Resources

Documentation Checklist

Judges trust contemporaneous, dated records over memory. This list covers what to keep and how.

Written by A Father's Fight Editorial Team Last updated
Share Facebook Text

Key takeaways

  • Record the same day; never reconstruct weeks later.
  • Facts only—what you saw, heard, and did.

Checklist

  1. 1Dated log of every parenting-time exchange and any denial
  2. 2Screenshots of texts showing date, time, and contact name
  3. 3Emails exported with headers
  4. 4Photos of the child's room and daily life at your home (dated)
  5. 5School attendance, report cards, and conference records
  6. 6Medical, dental, and therapy appointment records you attended
  7. 7Receipts for child expenses
  8. 8Records of your work schedule and availability
  9. 9Notes from any interaction with police, CPS, or schools
  10. 10Copies of all filings and orders in your case

Sources

  1. [1]National Center for State Courts — Self-Help Directory

A Father's Fight provides general educational information and personal experiences. It is not a law firm and this page is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney in your state. See our disclaimer and editorial policy.