Child Custody Forms: General Information That Affects Your Custody Order

In order for your child custody order to be accurate, it's essential that you fill out the proper child custody forms in the correct way. The forms to fill out vary from state to state, but there is general information that applies throughout the country about custody papers that every divorcing parent should know. Knowing this information will give you a head start on the filing process and help to ensure that you are happy with the court order that results from the papers. So, here are the basics about child custody forms.

The first parent to file for child custody fills out some variation (again, the particulars about the forms change depending on the state) on a summons and petition for child custody. After this is filed with the court (you file your custody information at the county court--the same place you file for divorce) the other parent is served with the papers. The other parent must fill out some sort of response to the petition. Included in this petition is usually a restraining order for both parents that states that neither parent can take the child out of the state without written permission from the other parent and the court until the custody case is resolved.

So, if you want to begin the child custody process, you need to go to court and fill out a petition. Then the other parent will be served the papers and you will go from there. If you are served with a petition regarding child custody, you need to go and file a response. There are fees associated with all the forms you file. If you can't afford to pay the fee, you can fill out another form to waive the fee. The court can give you more information about this.

These are the main forms that get the ball rolling. Along with filing these forms, there are other various papers that you need to give to the court. You will probably need to fill out papers about income and expense so the court can figure out child support. Be prepared with financial statements to accompany these documents.

You may also need to file additional papers about child support--if there are late payments, you want the support withheld from the income, etc. There are also forms associated with the type of custody you are seeking or that you and the child's other parent have agreed on. And, you will need to file some papers about the visitation schedule you want and also how the holidays will be divided.

This is the broad overview of the forms and papers you'll find all over the country. To find out more information about your individual state you can look online (many states have the forms you need posted online), go to the courthouse, or talk to a lawyer. Getting the right information about your forms and filling them out correctly will help you get the custody order that you want.