Keeping a journal for Child Custody. Getting a divorce is often a complicated process, which becomes even more complicated when there are children involved. By keeping a journal for child custody, you will smoothen the entire process, and reduce the stress involved on you and your child. The journal will also be extremely useful to your attorney, and will often be used by the court to help with the process. Documenting the process should become a habit; and this journal is the ultimate tool to developing this habit. EVERYTHING that happens to your child, whether good, bad, or neutral should be recorded and dated. Ones memory will often fail to hold up in court when in court or mediation in regards to child custody. What this journal contains: Visitation planner: The visitation planner at the beginning of the diary contains space for you to quickly plan your visitations. This information is crucial for keeping to agreed upon times and dates and should be recorded as soon as each agreement is made, to avoid any later disputes. Input sections for: Date Pick up and drop off time Pick up and drop off location Communication Log: A communication log is one of the most important aspects of keeping a journal for child custody. It ensures that you are protected and prepared for all agreements and conversations that will happen between the other parent, lawyer etc. Inputs include: Time, date, start time and length of conversation Nature of the conversation, who initiated it, what was covered Main points raised Additional information Visitation log: Visitation is often one of the trickiest parts of managing child custody. The visitation log in this journal is designed to ensure both parties uphold their agreements that were made in regards to visitation, and that the child's best interests are kept at the forefront of the agreements. Other notes: A section for any other notes related to child custody. Remember: everything related to this process should be recorded. Any information that may not fit into the other sections should be written here. It may include things such as your child's mood after a visit, something your child says about their other parent etc. This section will be used almost every day used correctly, with each note dated as instructed. If any other sections should run out, continue to use this section. Tips for keeping this journal: As well as the information included above, the journal contains tips about how best to keep this journal. Book Features: 8.5 x 11 inch in size 120 total pages - Multiple 'sections' per page (Should last around 1 year) Perfect bound with a beautiful soft matte cover Printed on white bleedproof paper Durable Tips for keeping a child custody journal Remain Balanced - stay objective: While you want to do everything you can to get custody of your children, make sure you also write down the good things the other parent does. Remember, this is about what is best for your children, not what is best for you or for the other parent. NEVER LIE OR FALSIFY INFORMATION or you will ultimately lose the battle in court. Include Smaller Details Don't forget to include the smaller, everyday details with your custody journal. Specifically, you'll want to take note of: Comments your child makes about the other parent (Positive and negative)

This open access book provides an overview of the ever-growing phenomenon of children in shared physical custody thereby providing legal, psychological, family sociological and demographical insights. It describes how, despite the long evolution of broken families, only the last decade has seen a radical shift in custody arrangements for children in divorced families and the gender revolution in parenting which is taking place. The chapters have a national or cross-national perspective and address topics like prevalence and types of shared physical custody, legal frames regulating custody arrangements, stability and changes in arrangements across the life course of children, socio‐economic, psychological, social well-being of various family members involved in different custody arrangements. With the book being an interdisciplinary collaboration, it is interesting read for social scientists in demography, sociology, psychology, law and policy makers with an interest family studies and custody arrangements.

Find out how evaluators, mediators, and judges deal with the issues of relocation in divorced families In the past, the relocation of a parent or child in custody cases was rarely a problem for divorced families—there was little conflict and little need for court intervention. But with the growth of shared custody, more fathers involved in parenting after divorce, and an increase in litigation between conflicted parents, relocation has become a complex issue that’s difficult for evaluators, judges, and public policymakers to resolve. Relocation Issues in Child Custody Cases offers a firsthand look at how evaluators investigate, predict, and make recommendations; how judges reach decisions based on those recommendations; and how individual states deal with relocation cases. Relocation Issues in Child Custody Cases examines how evaluators, mediators, and judges can best facilitate an environment where a child has an ongoing relationship with two parents, regardless of where each parent lives. This unique book looks at how the landscape in relocation cases has changed since the California Supreme Court’s landmark 2004 ruling in the LaMusga move-away case, examining relevant topics, including individual state statutes on relocation; a survey of courts in the United States; the functions of an evaluator; how a judge analyzes data before reaching a decision; parental conflict; domestic violence; change of circumstances; primary residence; and the process of developing parenting plans. Relocation Issues in Child Custody Cases examines: whether negative outcomes of parental relocation after divorce were a result of pre-existing conflict and domestic violence whether the “best interests of the child” is an acceptable standard in relocation cases investigative models for evaluators “for the move” and “against the move” biases—and how to reduce them a format for analyzing evidence in relocation cases the risks and benefits of presumptions in family law matters and much more Relocation Issues in Child Custody Cases is an essential resource for evaluators, mediators, judges, caseworkers, child psychologists, family therapists, and child advocates.

You never wanted to be in this position, but you are. Now, faced with the prospect of a custody dispute, you need to make smart choices. Winning Custody can help. this book-written by a woman who is an experienced psychotherapist, a mom, and a veteran of a bitter custody dispute-will help you find your way, maintain your sanity, and keep your kids from being caught in the custody cross fire. Winning Custody is geared specifically toward women seeking custody of their children. It offers advice on how to navigate the complicated legal maze of the custody process, giving step-by-step guidance on: -How to find a good-and affordable-lawyer -What to wear in court (it's more important than you might think) -How to effectively communicate with you ex -How to parent your child firmly, lovingly, and consistently throughout the crisis period -How to defuse your fears of losing your children -And how to love and believe in yourself during this most difficult time

The legal system requires mental health professionals to provide research summaries to support their evaluations in child custody cases. Contributions from leading developmental researchers, legal professionals, and clinicians describe how scientific evidence is properly used in court. Timely and current, this book helps evaluators access the best information to fulfill their obligations to their clients and the court. The Second Edition adds chapters on family observation, parental alienation, and sexual abuse. Forensic psychologists, family lawyers, and judges will be equipped with the most current information to aid in custody decisions.

A call for safety and accountablilty.

This authoritative reference brings together leading experts for up-to-date theory, findings, and guidelines on the core aspects of child custody evaluations. Contributors offer steps for gathering more accurate family data through home observations, interviews, and collateral information. Chapters examine psychological assessment tools commonly used in evaluations, including measures relating to parenting competencies, mental illness, domestic violence, and substance abuse, and consider increasingly salient issues such as relocation and families in therapy. The section on case studies shows best practices applied in real-life custody situations, and a chapter authored by a family court judge offers rarely-seen perspective from the bench. Featured in the Handbook: · A survey of ethical and professional issues. · Observing and interviewing children, adolescents, and adults. · Psychological assessment and personality testing. · A detailed review of the Bricklin scales. · Specialized issues, including parental alienation, attachment, cults, and more. · Illustrative case studies and psychological reports. Mental health professionals who conduct child custody evaluations, including psychiatrists, clinical psychologists clinical social workers, family and marriage counselors, and licensed clinical professional counselors, will appreciate the Handbook of Child Custody. Family law attorneys will also find the Handbook useful in assisting them in child custody litigation. Its thorough coverage will aid evaluators in making recommendations that are professional, ethical, and impartial, and family lawyers in understanding the evaluation process and preparing for expert testimony.

This book presents the latest data-based approaches to understanding and assessing relevant child, parent and family factors in child custody evaluation.

Is your ex-spouse trying to gain custody of your kids? Has he or she launched a campaign to make you look like a bad parent, both in the eyes of your children and the law? You aren’t alone. Unfortunately, high-conflict custody battles are all-too-common in today’s world. So how can you arm yourself with the mental and legal resources needed to survive this difficult time and keep your kids safe? In The High-Conflict Custody Battle, a team of legal and psychology experts present a practical guidebook for people like you who are engaged in a high-conflict custody battle. If you are dealing with an overtly hostile, inflammatory, deceitful, or manipulative ex-spouse, you will learn how to find and work with an attorney and prepare for a custody evaluation. The book also provides helpful tips you can use to defend yourself against false accusations, and gives a realistic portrayal of what to expect during a legal fight. Going through a divorce is hard, but going through a custody battle can feel like war. Don’t go in unprepared. With this book as your guide, you will be able to navigate this difficult process and learn powerful skills that will help you maintain a healthy relationship with your kids, fight unfair accusations, and uphold your rights as a parent.

Here is hard-hitting and fair advice for every father involved in a custody dispute. Drawing on 25 years of frontline experience, Chicago attorney Jeffery Leving, a nationally acclaimed men's rights crusader, offers disenfranchised fathers true hope and meaningful counsel. Designed to save countless men thousands of dollars and years of anguish, this detailed, comprehensive, and practical handbook takes fathers through every twist and turn of the legal system.