The Ultimate Custody Evidence Checklist: 60+ Items
· By MyCourtDocs
Don't walk into court unprepared. This 60+ item checklist covers every type of evidence that strengthens your custody case, organized by category.
Walking into family court without organized evidence is like taking an exam without studying. This printable checklist covers every type of evidence that can strengthen your custody case — organized by category so nothing falls through the cracks.
Category 1: Court Orders & Legal Documents
- ☐ Current custody order / divorce decree
- ☐ Any temporary orders
- ☐ Parenting plan (if separate from decree)
- ☐ Protective orders (current or expired)
- ☐ Previous modification orders
- ☐ Mediation agreements
- ☐ Guardian ad litem reports
Category 2: Schedule & Exchange Documentation
- ☐ Calendar showing ordered vs. actual parenting time
- ☐ Exchange logs with dates, times, locations
- ☐ Late pickup/dropoff records with exact times
- ☐ Missed visitations with documentation
- ☐ Holiday and vacation schedule compliance
- ☐ Right of first refusal exercises/denials
- ☐ Schedule change requests and responses
Category 3: Communication Records
- ☐ Text message screenshots (with timestamps)
- ☐ Email correspondence
- ☐ Co-parenting app messages (OFW, TalkingParents, etc.)
- ☐ Voicemail recordings/transcripts
- ☐ Social media posts (screenshots with dates)
- ☐ Unanswered communication attempts
- ☐ Threatening or harassing messages
Category 4: Child Welfare Evidence
- ☐ Child's condition at exchanges (photos, notes)
- ☐ Behavioral observations (dated entries)
- ☐ Child's statements (recorded verbatim, unprompted)
- ☐ Sleep schedule records
- ☐ Diet and nutrition concerns
- ☐ Hygiene observations
- ☐ Injury documentation (photos with timestamps)
Category 5: Medical Records
- ☐ Pediatrician visit records
- ☐ Vaccination records
- ☐ Dental records
- ☐ Mental health / therapy records
- ☐ Prescription records
- ☐ Emergency room visits
- ☐ Specialist appointments
- ☐ Insurance coverage documentation
- ☐ Record of which parent attended appointments
Category 6: Educational Records
- ☐ Report cards / progress reports
- ☐ Attendance records
- ☐ Parent-teacher conference notes
- ☐ IEP or 504 plans (if applicable)
- ☐ Homework completion records
- ☐ School event attendance
- ☐ Teacher communications
- ☐ Extracurricular activity participation
Category 7: Financial Records
- ☐ Child support payment history
- ☐ Shared expense receipts
- ☐ Medical expense records
- ☐ Extracurricular activity costs
- ☐ Childcare expenses
- ☐ Clothing and school supply purchases
- ☐ Reimbursement requests and responses
Category 8: Witness & Third-Party Evidence
- ☐ Character witness list with contact info
- ☐ Teacher/counselor observations
- ☐ Therapist letters or recommendations
- ☐ Police reports
- ☐ CPS reports (if applicable)
- ☐ Neighbor/community member statements
- ☐ Photos of the child's living environment
How to Use This Checklist
- Print it out and check off items you already have
- Identify gaps — What evidence are you missing?
- Start collecting — Focus on the gaps most relevant to your case
- Organize by category — Create physical or digital folders for each section
- Update regularly — Review weekly and add new evidence
Digital Organization with MyCourtDocs
Instead of managing paper folders and scattered files, MyCourtDocs organizes all of this evidence in one secure platform. Every incident, communication, and document is timestamped, categorized, and instantly exportable. When your attorney asks for "everything related to schedule violations," it's one click — not hours of sorting through boxes.
Start with the evidence you have. Document daily. The checklist items you fill in today become the foundation of your case tomorrow.