Custody Evidence: Order of Work and Packet
This resource owns the sequence. The custody evidence checklist owns the shelf: what to gather, what to delete, how to name files. If you are hunting for categories, jump there. If you are staring at a pile and need first/next/last, stay here.
Triage the pile
Three to five live claims. If you cannot list them, you are not ready to label exhibits.
Timeline first
10–30 rows: date, neutral event, child impact when real, exhibit placeholder.
Label proof
One exhibit, one job. Filename tells a stranger what it is without you on the phone.
Cull
Duplicates, mood threads, and atmosphere PDFs that do not touch a row.
Index
Cover + table + exhibit list that mirrors the table. No orphan exhibits.
Narrative last
Draft tracks the table. If the draft invents new events, the table was not finished.
Route map (what to open when)
| Need | Page | Why it is not duplicate |
|---|---|---|
| Categories + naming pattern | Evidence checklist | Shelf logic, not workflow order. |
| Row discipline | Timeline template | Artifact shape for dates, not pile triage. |
| TalkingParents exports | TalkingParents guide | App-native extraction, not generic messaging advice. |
| Signal vs noise in loud cases | High-conflict evidence answer | Weight and credibility, not checklist categories. |
| Denied time pattern | Gatekeeping log | Operational logging before you stack PDFs. |
Pile → working set → filing set
The working set is what you are willing to explain row by row. The filing set is what a tired reader gets. Most self-sabotage happens when people try to file the working set without cutting.
Noise that eats packets
- Duplicate captures of the same argument.
- Character essays with no new date.
- Indexes that read like closing arguments.
FAQ
I already hoard documents. Where do I start?
Name three claims you are actually trying to prove this month. Everything else goes in cold storage until it serves one of those claims. Without that triage, you are not building a packet; you are decorating anxiety.
Checklist or this page first?
If you need categories and filenames, open the custody evidence checklist. If you have the pile and need the order of operations, stay here. Doing both at once is how people duplicate work.
When do I write the story paragraph?
After the table and exhibit list are stable. Narrative first is how timelines drift from proof. Narrative last tracks the rows, not the feelings.
State form guides
Plain-English checklists for common custody and family-law forms in your state.
Build the packet inside MCC before you pay by the panic hour
Uploads, excerpts, and timeline rows in one workspace beat re-explaining your camera roll to every new professional.
Start freeMyCustodyCoach is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This resource is educational; confirm packet requirements with official court resources or counsel.