The day itself
Plan to spend much of the day at court, even for a matter scheduled in the morning. Cases are called from a calendar, and yours may be called late or adjourned to another date because an earlier matter ran long. Some appearances are held virtually, and the notice or the court will tell you how to connect. Dress as you would for an important meeting, silence your phone, and arrange child care, because children generally should not be brought to the courthouse unless the court asks for them. Bring every document you plan to rely on, organized and with copies, even if your lawyer already has a set. Inside the courtroom, everything said is recorded.
Who speaks and in what order
In a contested hearing, the parent who filed usually presents evidence first, then the other parent, and the attorney for the child can question witnesses and may take a position on what the child wants or needs. You may testify, answer questions from the other side's lawyer, and hear the other parent describe events very differently. Judges sometimes speak with a child privately, with the attorney for the child present, instead of having the child testify in open court. Stay composed while others are speaking, and let your lawyer handle objections. Facial reactions and interruptions are noticed.
When a decision comes
Many parents expect to leave the hearing with a final answer, and often they do not. Hearings can stretch over several dates, and judges frequently reserve decision and issue a written ruling later, sometimes after the parties submit written summations. Any temporary order stays in place until it is replaced. Before your hearing, we review the questions you are likely to be asked, the documents that need to be offered as evidence, and how to describe your parenting in concrete terms. Afterward, we explain what the ruling means and whether a short deadline applies if an appeal is worth considering.
