character witness statement for child custody

Be sure to choose someone who has known you for several years and who is credible in the eyes of the court. You might also ask your child's teacher or caregiver if they know you well and have personal knowledge of your parenting. They should be someone who has frequently observed your parenting and who can authentically speak to your character.Ĭommon character letter writers include close relatives, friends, co-workers and supervisors. Your character reference letter writer is a witness on your behalf - they should know you well, have first-hand knowledge of your relationship with your child and support your custody requests. Who should write a character reference letter for a custody case A strong character reference letter showing how the issues are in the past and do not affect your parenting can be crucial in these situations. You may also need a character reference letter if you have issues that can cause a parent to lose custody, such as a DUI conviction or criminal record. In high-conflict cases where parents make allegations against each other, character reference letters can help the judge get more information. The letters are typically optional, but one can go a long way in helping the judge understand you and your parenting. Each parent submits paperwork to the court detailing the arrangements they want, along with evidence to prove that their proposed arrangement is best for the child.īoth parents can submit a character reference letter as part of this paperwork. When parents can't agree on custody, a judge (or other court official, such as a magistrate) decides the custody orders. Ideally, parents should work together to create their parenting plan, parenting time schedule and child support agreement. When you may need a character reference letter It also gives the judge more information about who the parent is, how they take care of their child and why they should have custody. However, unlike a declaration letter, a character reference letter is written by someone who knows the parent (instead of the parent themself).Ī character reference letter gives the judge insight into the case by offering a third party's perspective on the parent's relationship with the child.

Similar to a declaration letter, it's a statement to the judge that supports a parent's requested custody arrangements. Sometimes simply called a character letter, this letter is official legal testimony used as evidence in some child custody cases. If you've been asked to write to the judge, use our sample character reference letter and fill-in-the-blank template. If you're a parent pursing child custody, it's important you understand who you should ask to write a letter and how it can impact your case. Home > Topics > Custody > Steps > Character Reference Letter Character Reference Letter: Child Custody TemplateĪ character reference letter to the court can be an important part of a disputed custody case.

Character witness statement for child custody