When parents in Houston gather financial documents in preparation for a divorce, they should not forget calendars. These can be valuable resources in figuring out dates, parenting time, expenses and more. Calendars can also serve as evidence in the event of a dispute. One part of the divorce process for parents usually involves having to provide detailed information about children’s activities and health.
Under the stress of divorce, it’s easy to forget certain details. This is where calendars come in, marking such occasions as birthday parties children may have attended. These usually involve bringing gifts and other costs that add up, but parents rarely remember to include this under expenses. Children who play certain sports may have to travel to competitions at the parents’ expense, and this should also be included in child-related costs. Parents might also need to look at the calendar to calculate when the child visited a doctor or therapist.
The calendar can be useful in determining lifestyle. Child and spousal support payments are supposed to help with the maintenance of a lifestyle similar to the one during marriage. It is easy to remember big family vacations but harder to recall how often a family or couple went to a restaurant. A calendar may contain notes that make this information easier to recall.
Ideally, parents will reach a child custody agreement outside of court, but this is not always possible. Gathering as much evidence as possible can be useful during complex child custody disputes. A family law attorney could guide a parent through the divorce process while focusing on the child’s best interests.