Custody Buddy: Your Helpful Guide

Custody Buddy is a tool powered by OpenAI's ChatGPT designed to assist individuals involved in custody disputes. It helps users document and report on incidents by transforming informal descriptions into more formal reports. Custody Buddy can categorize incidents, assess their severity, and provide summaries of incidents. However, it's important to remember that Custody Buddy is not a substitute for professional legal advice.

You can access Custody Buddy by creating an account with ChatGPT and following the link to the most up-to-date version of the tool.

Custody Buddy is free to use. However, there are also paid subscription options that provide more comprehensive features, such as regular legal updates, tailored guidance, and advanced automation. These start from $15 per month. For a one-off fee, users can access a custom-built GPT model tailored to their specific family law needs.

Custody Buddy is suitable for anyone involved in a custody dispute, but you should always consult with a lawyer or mediator before using the reports you generate. Some use cases for Custody Buddy include documenting co-parenting conflicts (e.g., canceled visits and hostile communication), custody disputes (e.g., providing a summary of incidents to a lawyer or court), communication breakdowns, and concerns about a child's well-being.

It is important to remember that Custody Buddy is not a replacement for legal advice from a qualified professional.

Custody Buddy works in a simple, step-by-step way:

1. Input: You begin by typing a description of the incident.
2. Categorization and Date: Custody Buddy then categorizes the incident and asks for the date it occurred.
3. Assessment: Next, Custody Buddy will assess the severity of the incident.
4. Report Generation: It will generate a professional summary that you can review, edit, and share with your lawyer or mediator.

When documenting custody battles, it is important to keep comprehensive records of the following:

• Communication: Keep a record of all communication with the other parent, including emails, text messages, and any messages sent via co-parenting apps. This will help to demonstrate if there have been attempts to communicate, if communication has broken down, or if there have been any threats or abusive messages sent.
• Visitation and Parenting Time: Keep detailed records of all visitation and parenting time, noting dates, times, and any changes to the schedule. This can be useful to demonstrate if the other parent is adhering to custody arrangements.
• Incidents and Concerns: Carefully document any incidents or concerns that relate to your child's well-being. This could include accidents, injuries, medical problems, and instances (or concerns) of neglect and abuse.
• School and Extracurricular Activities: Keep records of your involvement in your child's schooling and extracurricular activities, including report cards, attendance records, and communications with teachers. This can be useful to demonstrate that you are actively involved in your child's life and education.

Documenting custody battles is important because the family court relies on evidence to make decisions about custody arrangements. Keeping clear and accurate records can:

• Help you establish a history of the situation.
• Provide evidence to support your position.
• Demonstrate that you have been stable and consistent in your parenting.
• Showcase your involvement in your child's life.

During the court process, it is essential to:

• Follow Court Orders: Make sure you follow any court orders carefully.
• Be Respectful: Be respectful of the court, your former partner, and all other parties at all times.
• Prioritize Your Child's Best Interests: Keep your child's well-being at the forefront of all decisions.
• Seek Legal Guidance: Consult with a qualified family law attorney for guidance.

Remember, Custody Buddy can assist you with documentation and organization, but seeking professional legal advice is essential for navigating custody disputes effectively.