Whether you're showing a pattern of missed visits or proving you never miss one, a consistent parenting time log is some of the strongest evidence in a custody case. Here's what to record and how.
| Field | What to write |
|---|---|
| Date & scheduled time | What the order or agreement called for |
| Actual times | When pickup and drop-off actually happened |
| Location | Where the exchange occurred |
| Who was present | Both parents? A new partner? Grandparent? Witnesses? |
| Notes | Anything unusual — factual and brief. "No issues" counts. |
| Changes | Cancellations, swaps, or make-up time — who requested, and how (save the message) |
This is the one people skip, and it's the one that matters most. A log containing only problems looks like ammunition. A log with six months of complete entries, most of them uneventful, looks like what it is: an accurate record. When a dispute arises, the boring entries are what make the serious ones believable.
Fill in the entry at the exchange or right after. Batch-writing a month of entries from memory produces vague, less credible records — and it shows.
"Arrived 6:52pm for 5:00pm pickup, texted at 6:15pm saying traffic" — not "late again with another excuse." If the pattern is real, the numbers will show it.
Courts often want the big picture: how many scheduled visits, how many completed, how many missed or cut short. A good log lets you answer precisely — "14 of 22 scheduled visits completed since January" — instead of guessing.
Pair your log with an incident log for events that need more detail, and roll both into your case timeline before hearings.
HERESAI's parenting calendar logs exchanges, flags violations, tallies totals, and exports a court-ready parenting time report.
Start your case file — freeHERESAI 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.