Situations
Real questions from high-conflict cases, answered plainly.
Each answer is short on purpose. Examples sometimes mention Texas parents; the record-keeping applies wherever your order was entered.
Late pickup
They were late. Log the minutes.
Missed visitation
They did not show. Put it on the record.
Holiday custody
Holidays override the regular week. Log when they don’t.
Right of first refusal
They used a sitter on their day.
They will not join
They do not have to join this vault.
Custody evaluator
A short packet. Not a shoebox.
Prove a pattern
Patterns beat one bad night.
Denied phone calls
The call did not happen. Write down which one.
Unreimbursed expenses
They did not pay their half. Keep the ledger.
Texts they delete
Save the thread before it disappears.
Police at exchange
Police came to the exchange. Write the facts down.
Makeup time
Makeup time offered, refused, or taken — log each one.
School & medical
They enrolled or booked without telling you. Log it today.
Also useful
What if the other parent refuses to use OurFamilyWizard or TalkingParents?
You can still keep a complete record on your own. A private documentation vault does not require the other parent to join, and everything you save stays under your control.
In the appStart free, then open Calendar and Write it down. Start free
Do I need the other parent to join a custody app?
No. They never get a login, never get notified, and never see or edit anything you record.
In the appSign up alone — there is no invite step to skip. Start free
How do I document a late or missed pickup for court?
Write down the scheduled time, the actual time, and exactly what happened, the same day it happens. Dated, factual entries made at the time are far more useful than a summary written months later.
In the appWrite it down → Log incident → save the entry with the pattern tag. Start free
How do I track parenting time I was supposed to have?
Compare your court-ordered schedule against what actually happened and keep the running difference. A days-owed ledger shows time you were supposed to have, without you doing the math by hand.
In the appMissed time shows the running balance from your calendar and log. Start free
How do I keep texts if they delete them?
Export or copy the thread into your own records before it can disappear. Once a message is saved in your vault with its date, deleting it on their phone does not remove your copy.
In the appMore → Messages → Import a thread (paste or a WhatsApp .txt export). Start free
How do I log expenses they will not reimburse?
Record each expense with the date, amount, what it was for, and whether it was reimbursed. A running ledger of unreimbursed amounts is exactly what an attorney asks for before a hearing.
In the appMore → Expenses → Add expense → mark it unreimbursed. Start free
What should I bring my attorney before a hearing?
A short, dated chronology of facts, an exhibit index, and totals for days owed and unreimbursed expenses. A printed packet with those pieces is easier to review than a stack of screenshots.
In the appPrint a packet → Assemble a packet → Print or save as PDF. Start free
Is there a co-parenting app that works for high conflict without them logging in?
Yes — a one-parent documentation tool works entirely without the other parent. Custody Ninja is a private record you keep; they never get a key.
In the appStart free, or open the sample case to see a full record first. Start free
How do I document a pattern without calling names?
Log facts and times, and tag entries with neutral labels like late exchange or denied call. Repetition of dated facts shows the pattern; labels stay documentation, not accusations.
In the appWrite it down → add a pattern tag to each entry. Start free
What if they show up early, keep the child past the order, or change the location?
Record what was ordered and what actually occurred, with times, the same day. Comparing the order against the event is how you show deviations calmly and consistently.
In the appWrite it down → Log incident → note the ordered time and the actual time. Start free
What if they use the child as a messenger or block calls?
Note each instance with the date and what was said or blocked, in neutral language. A dated log of communication problems is more credible than a general complaint.
In the appWrite it down → tag the entry as a denied call or communication issue. Start free
What if holidays and summer never match the order?
Put the ordered holiday and summer schedule on your calendar, then mark what actually happened on each date. The difference between the two becomes visible without argument.
In the appCalendar → set your schedule → Compare vs. the order. Start free
Can I start a record the same night something happens?
Yes — same-night entries are the most valuable kind. Open the app, write what happened with the time, and it is saved in your private record.
In the appWrite it down — the log form is one tap from Today. Start free
Will a judge accept an app printout?
That decision belongs to your court and your attorney, not to any app. What you can control is the quality of the record: dated facts, consistent formatting, and a packet your attorney can review and decide how to use.
In the appPrint a packet, then talk to your attorney about how to use it. Start free
How do I prove they were late?
Write down the time the exchange was set for beside the time it actually happened, the same day, every time. One late pickup is a story; twenty dated rows with the minutes on each one is a pattern.
In the appMissed time → Log an exchange. The minutes are worked out for you. Start free
What if they keep the child on a holiday?
Put the holiday block from your order into the calendar first — start time, end time, and who has the children. Then log what actually happened and the hours you did not get. Holiday blocks sit above the normal rotation, so the difference is visible.
In the appCalendar → Add this year's holidays from your order, then log the holiday as withheld. Start free
What is right of first refusal?
Many orders say that if the parent with the children will be away for a set number of hours, the other parent gets the first offer of that time. Whether yours says that, and how many hours, is for your attorney to read. What you can do is log each day: the hours, whether you were offered the time, and who watched the children instead.
In the appSitter time → Log a day. Start free
What do I give a custody evaluator?
Usually the same short list: who your children are and who they see — school, doctor, dentist, therapist, daycare — what has happened recently in dated form, your time beside the order, and a small number of papers. Not argument.
In the appReady packets → Evaluator kit. Start free
What does a judge actually read?
Assume two pages. A clean caption, a short dated chronology, and an exhibit index they can follow. Everything else is there for your attorney if it is needed.
In the appReady packets → Hearing packet, then the enforcement table if missed time is the issue. Start free
Custody Ninja is a private record-keeping tool. It is not a law firm and this page is not legal advice. For advice about your case, talk to your attorney. Product questions are answered in the FAQ.
Custody Ninja is a documentation tool. It is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice.