The number is what moves judges.
'He interfered with parent-time' is testimony. '47 documented incidents of parent-time interference over 12 months, 22 of them full withheld overnights' is a motion for contempt.
How to do it right
- 01
Log every incident on the day it happens
Scheduled exchange, actual exchange, what was said, who initiated. Screenshot the text thread.
- 02
Distinguish types of interference
Full withheld overnight, late return, blocked phone contact, unilateral schedule change, refusal to allow scheduled activities. Each is a different pattern.
- 03
Tie every incident to the order
Cite the specific provision of the custody order that was violated. This is what makes the log usable in a contempt motion.
What we built for exactly this problem
Automatic days-withheld counter
Chronica tallies withheld overnights automatically from your custody calendar. The pattern export shows the number front and center.
Custody calendar with color-coded conflicts
Visual timeline of scheduled vs. actual parent-time. Missed exchanges appear as colored gaps you can point to.
Questions people ask
How many incidents do I need before I file for contempt?
Legally, one — courts do enforce single violations. Practically, most attorneys wait until a documented pattern makes the motion overwhelming rather than nitpicky.
Keep going
How to document custody violations
A practical guide to documenting custody order violations — what to capture, how to timestamp it, and how to turn it into evidence a judge will read.
ReadA coercive control evidence log
How to keep a coercive control evidence log that reads as a pattern, not scattered incidents. Categories, examples, and a court-ready export format.
ReadHow to document parental alienation
Parental alienation is contested in family court. Here is how to document alienating behaviors in a way that avoids the diagnostic trap and shows a pattern.
Read