Massachusetts · Custody Documentation

Custody & Parenting Journal

Track every parenting time exchange, communication, and significant event. This journal is admissible in MA Probate & Family Court. Fill in entries as they happen — don't reconstruct from memory later.

⚠️ How to use this journal: Fill in a new entry for each parenting time exchange or significant event. Be factual — dates, times, locations, what happened. Avoid opinions or emotional language. Print and bring to court or share with your attorney. This is not legal advice.

Your Information

Your Full Legal Name

Child(ren) Name(s)

Other Parent's Name

Court / Case / Docket Number (if known)

Current Custody Arrangement

Journal Period

Parenting Time Log

Log every scheduled parenting time exchange — whether it happened or not. Missed/denied time is critical evidence.

Date	Day	Scheduled?	Drop-off Time	Pick-up Time	Who had child?	Exchange location	Notes / Issues	On time?

↳ Print additional copies of this page for ongoing entries. Use 1 row per exchange.

Overnight Count Tracker

Count overnights carefully — the MA Child Support Guidelines threshold for shared physical custody is ~146+ overnights/year per parent.

Year

Total overnights with you (year to date)

Month	Your overnights	Other parent's overnights	Notes
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
TOTAL

Communication Log

Log significant communications with the other parent. Keep screenshots of all texts/emails in a separate folder.

Date	Method	Direction	Topic	Summary	Evidence saved?

Significant Events Log

Log any significant event: missed visitation, denied access, medical emergencies, school issues, conflict, police involvement, DCF contact.

Date	Time	Event Description	Witnesses	Evidence	Action Taken

Child Well-Being Notes

Track your child's mood, behavior, and statements after exchanges. Note any concerns — but keep it factual, not interpretive.

Date	After exchange from	Child's mood/behavior	Anything child said	Physical concerns?	Follow-up needed?

💡 Tips for court: Bring printed copies of this journal to every hearing. Keep all screenshots/texts organized by date in a separate folder. Use a co-parenting app like OurFamilyWizard or AppClose — courts accept their records as evidence. Never alter entries after the fact. If you make an error, draw a single line through it and initial — don't use white-out.

DadHelp · Document Pack for Massachusetts · Not legal advice · dadcourthelp.com