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Documents to gather before a custody hearing

On Behalf of | May 10, 2022 | Custody |

Whether you’re in the midst of a divorce or looking to make a custody modification, it’s important to be prepared. The court will be solely focussed on the best interests of the child in either case.

There are some preparatory steps that you can take to boost the strength of your claims. For instance, having your documents at the ready will provide evidence that could help you. What sort of documents should you gather before a custody hearing?

School reports

If your child is thriving at school under your care, then this will reflect well on you as a parent. At the end of the day, results matter, and a copy of your child’s school report and test results offer proof of how they are doing.

Email and call logs

If your child isn’t currently living with you, then it may help your case to show that you still maintain regular contact. Do you call them multiple times a week? Maybe you have regular contact via email or other messaging apps. All of this is logged, and you can bring logs before the court.

If the child is living with you, you can also use phone records to show that you have not obstructed the other parent from getting in touch with the children. Other than in extreme cases, both parents should be able to maintain a meaningful relationship with their child.

Custody matters can be contentious both during and after divorce. Always remember that you have rights as a parent in Ohio. To assert these rights, it may be in your best interests to seek guidance from a knowledgeable support network.