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Court-Ready Evidence Checklist for Family Court

Use this checklist to gather and organize evidence before a custody or protective order hearing. Not every item applies to every case — collect what's relevant to yours.

Core records (almost every case)

All court filings and existing orders in your case
A chronological timeline of key events
Your visitation / parenting time log
Your incident log with dates and details
Text messages and emails with the other parent (full threads, exported where possible)
A one-page summary of what you're asking the court for, and why

Children's records

School records: attendance, report cards, teacher communications
Medical and dental records; immunization records
Therapy or counseling attendance records (content may be privileged — ask before requesting)
Childcare records and schedules
Photos showing the child's life with you: home, activities, routines

Safety-related evidence (if applicable)

Police reports and 911 call records
Protective orders (current and past, any state)
Medical records documenting injuries
Photos of injuries or property damage, with dates
Threatening or controlling messages and voicemails
Witness names and contact information
See organizing domestic violence evidence safely for handling this material securely

Financial records (support and expense issues)

Pay stubs, tax returns, and proof of income (yours; the court will order the other side's)
Receipts for child-related expenses: medical, school, activities, clothing
Proof of support payments made or missed

Organizing it for the courtroom

Sort by topic, then by date. Judges think in issues; issues unfold in time.
Label everything. "Exhibit 3 — Text messages, March 10–14, missed exchanges" beats a folder of screenshots.
Make three copies of anything you want the judge to see: court, other party, you.
Check your local rules. Some courts require exhibits to be exchanged before the hearing or filed in a specific format. The courthouse self-help center can tell you.

What courts accept varies by state. Rules of evidence differ, and some material (like recordings) is regulated. When in doubt about a specific item, ask a legal aid organization or attorney in your state.

Generate your evidence packet automatically

HERESAI organizes your evidence with chain-of-custody records and generates labeled, court-ready reports from your logs and files.

Start your case file — free

HERESAI is an organizational and educational tool. It is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney or legal aid organization.