| If there is any such thing as a common theme that | | | | will want to have that handy. |
| runs through the child custody evaluation process, it | | | | Lies are of special interest because if you can prove |
| would be the theme of documentation. But when it | | | | a lie, then you can show they are not to be trusted. |
| comes to documentation many people simply | | | | If they would lie over one issue, then what would |
| don’t have any idea of what to keep a record | | | | keep them from lying about another? Lies deserve |
| of. To simplify this process and help you understand | | | | special attention from you. If you know there is a lie |
| what will be valuable to you let’s look at why | | | | being told, then challenge the lie in writing (email |
| you need to document. | | | | works great for this). Get them to cover their lie by |
| The whole point of documentation for an evaluator is | | | | telling another that you can disprove. DO NOT give |
| to show that you are backing up the claims you have | | | | them a way to get out of it by telling them what |
| made about your case. The reason you need to back | | | | they are missing. Simply have them clarify and solidify |
| up your case is because you and the other parent | | | | their lie. Wait to disprove it until you meet with the |
| cannot come to an agreement on virtually anything. | | | | evaluator. |
| If you could agree then you would have been done | | | | Provide your documentation to the other parent |
| by the end of mediation. If this wasn’t important | | | | before you go or you will not be able to use it. This |
| to you then you would have caved in by now and | | | | is called discovery. But once the documentation has |
| been done with this long ago. | | | | been completed, served, and delivered to the |
| It is those differences that you do not agree on that | | | | evaluator, you can make your case. The wonderful |
| you want to document. When the other parent is | | | | thing is that the lying parent will be forced to come |
| pointing out things that you don’t believe matter, | | | | up with another story or try to downplay the |
| make a note of it. Why? Because when you begin | | | | incident. They won’t be able to play offense but |
| talking about substantive issues you will want to | | | | will be playing defense instead. |
| show the issues that they were focused on. If the | | | | As long as you stick to the issues, don’t |
| child’s safety is a true issue and the other parent | | | | embellish or exaggerate the truth and steer away |
| down plays the issue, it is easy to show if you have | | | | from the drama, you should now be in good shape |
| documented. If the other parent has lied and told | | | | for the evaluators report. |
| several versions of a story to cover their tracks, you | | | | |