I recently taught a CLE (continuing legal education) seminar on “the High Conflict Custody Case,” and I started thinking about ways that parents can prepare for a custody trial.

First, let me be clear that a custody case is one that parties should work hard (and press their attorneys hard) to settle. You’re going to deal with the other parent for the rest of your life, and having a showdown in court is not the best way to show your child how much you love them.

There are several things that you can do to prepare for custody trial. Below is a brief summary of tangible exhibits that you can collect to take to your attorney:

1. Pictures: action shots that reflect your relationship with your child, that reflect your family/friends with your child, or that reflect important events in your child’s life;

2. Artwork: any artwork that reflects the child’s feelings toward you or shows pictures of your relationship with your child;

3. Cards/gifts from your child;

4. Videos: similar to the types I mention above with pictures;

5. Calendars: schedules for your child’s activities or notes you have made on a calendar of your custody arrangement with the other parent; and

6. Emails between you and your child or you and the other parent.

You should have lengthy meetings with your attorney to prepare for any custody trial, but above is a list of items that you can start collecting even before you have an attorney.

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