Using Computer Software in Divorce and Child Custody Cases

If you have the unfortunate experience of getting into a battle over child custody in your divorce case, your best friend in court (besides your lawyer) is good evidence. So it is extremely important that you keep written records to back up any assertions you have that it is in your child’s best interest to have you as primary conservator.

If the other parent does not exercise their visitation rights and you have records that show that he or she hasn’t bothered to see the children for months at a time, you have evidence that indicates that you are more involved in the children’s lives. That kind of history may be very important in helping the court to decide in your favor.  In a Texas divorce case, the parent is awarded custody using the standard of the child's best interest.  So in your suit for divorce, you should be prepared to introduce evidence to that effect.

Or if the other parent will not allow you to pick up the children at the scheduled time for visitation, denies you visitation, or is constantly very late in dropping off the children as per your agreement, then it helps if you have evidence to back up your claims. It is much better to be able to say that your spouse did or did not do something at 4:30 PM on August 12 than to just vaguely assert that the event happened sometime last year.

One of the blessings of computer technology is that there are many niche software programs that can help you with particular tasks; in this case there is software that can help you keep track of events regarding your child custody issues. One such program is called Custody Toolbox. It includes a journal to record events and observations as well as a calendar to keep track of your child custody schedule. I have experimented this program and found it to be a useful tool for parents. For parents who are comfortable using technology, these kinds of tools are a handy way of keeping records.

Here is the developer’s website: http://www.fiveoclocksoftware.com/index.htm

Keeping good records can help you if you are in a child custody dispute. The records themselves may or not be admissible in court (that is another issue altogether, but good records will help you remember things that you would otherwise have difficulty remembering.