How to organize evidence for a custody case (Request for Order)
Quick answer
Organizing evidence for a California custody case (a Request for Order, FL-300) means gathering records across the 5 factual topics it involves — parenting time, communications, school, medical, and notable incidents — and laying them out as a dated chronology with a labeled exhibit index. These records back the related forms (FL-300, FL-300-INFO, FL-311). This is organizing your evidence, not legal advice.
Last updated: June 2026
Organize the parenting timeline, communications, and records to support a Request for Order for custody or visitation. Note the 16-court-day service deadline before a hearing.
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Evidence worth gathering
These are the factual topics commonly relevant to this kind of matter. For each, gather whatever you have that records it — and note anything you don't. This is about organizing records, not deciding what any of it legally means.
- Parenting time / scheduleA log or calendar of who had the children when, and any exchange records.
- Communications between parentsTexts, emails, and call logs — keep the full thread so context is clear.
- School recordsReport cards, attendance, enrollment, or notes from teachers.
- Medical / healthAppointment records, provider notes, and who took the child to them.
- Notable incidentsDates, what happened, and anything that records it (a message, a photo, a report).
How to organize your evidence
The process is the same whatever the matter — gather, label, build a chronology, then export. It's about organizing records into a clear file, not deciding what any of it legally means.
Gather everything you have
Collect the records that document your matter — screenshots, texts, emails, PDFs, photos, and any reports or statements. Don't filter yet; gather first.
Label each item and note its date
Give every piece of evidence a clear label and the date it records. ExhibitPack reads images with on-device OCR and pulls a verbatim source quote for each fact.
Build a dated chronology
Put the events in date order, each tied to the record that documents it, and group related records into factual topics. ExhibitPack builds the chronology and an exhibit index automatically.
Review the missing-evidence checklist
Check the list of records commonly relevant to your matter that you don't have yet, so you know what's worth tracking down before you finalize.
Export your packet
Export a clean, source-traceable PDF with the chronology, exhibit index, and declaration support — ready to take to an attorney, mediator, or self-help center.
What makes a packet attorney-ready
“Attorney-ready” describes a clean, organized, source-traceable file — not that a lawyer reviewed it. Here's what ExhibitPack assembles from your evidence:
A dated chronology
Events laid out in order, each tied to the evidence that records it — so anyone can follow what happened and when.
Factual issue clusters
Your evidence grouped by topic (the facts), never by a legal claim — so related records sit together.
An exhibit index
A labeled list of every document with a designation (A, B, C…) and a page reference, in a CRC 3.1110-style format.
Source-traceable facts
Every fact carries a verbatim quote from your own evidence, so a reviewer can verify it against the source — nothing is invented.
A missing-evidence checklist
A plain list of records commonly relevant to your matter that you don't have yet, so you know what's worth gathering.
Declaration support
Your dated facts arranged as numbered, factual paragraphs you (or your attorney) can build a declaration from.
Missing-evidence checklist
Records commonly relevant to this matter that people often don't have yet. Use it as a prompt for what's worth tracking down — not a list of requirements.
- School / daycare recordsSupport attendance and care claims factually.
- A proposed parenting scheduleConcrete schedules help the court and the other parent respond.
- Proof of service planning (16 court days)FL-300 must be served at least 16 court days before the hearing.
Forms this matter commonly uses
General published information about the California Judicial Council forms associated with this kind of matter. ExhibitPack does not select forms for you or advise whether or when to use them — always verify against your court's current forms and rules.
- FL-300 — Request for OrderThe core motion form — states the orders you want and why (factually).
- FL-300-INFO — Information Sheet for Request for OrderInstructions for completing and serving FL-300.
- FL-311 — Child Custody and Visitation (Parenting Time) Application AttachmentAttaches custody/visitation specifics to FL-300.
- FL-341 — Child Custody and Visitation Order AttachmentThe order the court signs setting custody/visitation.
Questions, answered
What is a parenting-time log and why organize one?
It's a simple record of who had the children when, and any exchange details. Organized alongside school and medical records, it shows the day-to-day pattern factually. ExhibitPack can fold a log and related records into one chronology.
What is an FL-300?
FL-300 is California's Request for Order — the published Judicial Council form used to ask a family court for orders. This is general published information; ExhibitPack does not select forms for you or tell you whether or when to file one.
What does "source-traceable" mean?
It means every fact in your packet carries a verbatim quote from your own evidence, plus a reference back to the document it came from. Anyone reviewing the packet can check each fact against its source. Nothing is invented or summarized away from what you provided.
What is an exhibit index?
An exhibit index is a labeled list of the documents you're including, each given a designation (A, B, C…) and a page reference. It's how a reader finds a specific piece of evidence quickly. ExhibitPack builds one in a California Rules of Court 3.1110-style format.
What does "attorney-ready" mean here?
It describes a clean, organized, source-traceable file — a dated chronology, an exhibit index, and facts tied to their sources — that's easy to hand to an attorney. It does not mean an attorney reviewed it or that it is legally sufficient; ExhibitPack is not a law firm and gives no legal advice.
Do I need an account to organize my evidence?
No. You can build and preview a packet for free without signing up. An account only matters if you want to save your work or come back to it later.
Does ExhibitPack give legal advice or tell me what to file?
No. ExhibitPack organizes the evidence you provide into a chronology, issue clusters, and an exhibit index. It does not advise you on your rights, which forms to file, deadlines, or strategy. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney or your court's self-help center.
Is my evidence kept private?
Images are read with on-device OCR, so your evidence isn't shipped off just to be scanned. You can delete your data at any time. See the Privacy page for details.
Ready to organize it?
Add whatever evidence you have and ExhibitPack builds the chronology, exhibit index, and missing-evidence checklist for you — free, no account needed to start.