• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer

The Datz Law Firm | Broomfield and Louisville CO

The Datz Law Firm | Broomfield and Louisville CO

Broomfield Criminal Defense and Divorce Attorney

  • Practice Areas
    • Family Law
      • Common Steps In A Colorado Divorce
      • Domestic Violence
    • Criminal Defense
      • DUI Defense
      • Violent Crimes
      • Juvenile Delinquency
    • Dependency and Neglect
    • Seal Criminal Records
    • Protection Order Help
      • Protection Order FAQ
  • Our Team
    • Jonathan Datz
    • Christopher Estoll
    • Kelly Toney
    • Jackie Gregory
    • Lynn Rutter
  • Location
  • Blog
  • Reviews
  • Contact Us

How To Document For Your Divorce


“She wouldn’t give me access to any of the money from our joint account.”

“I went to pick the kids up at the normal time and he called the police. The police wouldn’t do anything to help me because this was ‘a matter for family court’ – even though I had the custody order in my hand.”

“He was late picking her up from school six times in the last two weeks and I had to leave work to go get her each time.”

“She hasn’t done ANY of their schoolwork with them since we separated. They come to my house and we spend most of the time catching up on what they didn’t finish.”

Advice on how to document for divorce

Not uncommonly, a response to any of these statements will involve some version of “did you document it?” Although you might get tired of this question, remembering to document for your divorce is arguably one of the most important things you can do as you are moving through a contested divorce. 

Why Document For Your Divorce?

Documenting every incident and interaction can feel overwhelming and maybe hopeless. The last thing you want to do after a traumatic child custody exchange or another blast of abuse from your spouse is sit down and write about it. Yet, the best way to fight for your children and their rights, or for yourself, is by documenting anything that seems pertinent. 

Over the course of the next few months, many things can happen. Should you be forced to file for a restraining order, documentation will give you a reference as you fill out your paperwork. Should an emergency occur, requiring you to file for immediate custody, you’ll have patterns and instances documented already.

In a way, we are lucky to be living in the digital age because many communications between you and the other party are easily documented, can easily be kept private, and easily admissible in court.

What to Document

Depending on where you are in the dissolution process, and depending on your specific issues, here are some things you’ll consider documenting:

  • Patterns present in your marriage that may help establish financial, psychological, or physical abuse.
  • Incidents that may help you show a specific issue relating to your case.
  • Financial records
  • Letters
  • Social media posts 
  • Phone call records – these may be used to establish harassment or a pattern of missed calls.
  • Text threads
  • Emails
  • Police or child protective services reports/interactions

Time stamps are often invaluable, make sure you learn how to reveal time stamps on texts and phone calls before you take screenshots

Be sure to ask your divorce attorney if there are any other things you should be documenting.

Tools For Documenting

If you are still in the same house, you may want to try to protect your documentation. There are several online tools you can use, and you have the option of syncing to other devices.

Great free online tools include

  • Evernote: this is a great spot to make a note of an incident and add photos and screenshots of text threads – the free version can be used on two devices.
  • Google Drive: Create a folder for each incident/area of conflict and add supporting documents. These can be screenshots of texts or emails, images and a description on a Google Doc with a timeline. Screenshots of text threads can be labeled according to the incident, like the following: “refusal to communicate 1”, “refusal to communicate 2”, etc, so that it’s easy to read them in order.
    • A potential benefit to Google Drive is the ability to share with your attorney’s office so they can easily reference and print out for exhibits. You could also share with your therapist, if desired.
  • A journal: it can be therapeutic and helpful to write down some things that happen. If you’re still in the same house, please be sure to keep it tucked away where it won’t be found
  • “Notes” apps on your phone can be a place to quickly type in things as they happen
  • Voice Recorder: if you’re pressed for time, and need to note something to later type down, you can take a quick recording of what happened so you can remember later.
  • Video: Taking a video of incidents can be helpful even if you don’t use it in court later:
    • It may help you feel validated when you play it back and see the situation play out once more.
    • Your attorney may be able to use it as evidence, or it might help your attorney see what incidents look like.
    • You can use the video as a reference to describe the incident for attorneys or for your own healing.

Something to remember is that print communication is usually admissible in court. The more communicating you do via email or text message, the better it will be for your attorney. You may also personally benefit by having time to respond after initial emotional reactions.

Category: Family Law

Need advice on a legal issue?

Whether it’s family law or criminal defense, we’re happy to meet with you and let you know how we can help. Call us today to schedule a consultation.

Get in touch
Previous Post:Choosing Your Divorce Attorney
Next Post:The Family Court And Narcissism

Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • My Husband Was Arrested For Domestic Violence – Part 2
  • My Husband Was Arrested For Domestic Violence – Part 1
  • Shared Custody Holiday Tips
  • Can I Divorce My Spouse Even If They Don’t Want It?
  • What is the “Justice System”? – a criminal attorney’s perspective

Archives

  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • October 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • October 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021

Datz Law Firm

(720) 879-1114

1371 Hecla Drive, Suite F
Louisville, CO 80027

Attorneys

  • Jonathan Datz
  • Christopher Estoll
  • Kelly Toney

Practice Areas

  • Criminal Defense
  • Divorce and Family Law

Social

  • Facebook
  • Google
  • Yelp
  • LinkedIn

Copyright © 2023 · Datz Law Firm · All Rights Reserved