Most divorce and custody cases involve at least one court date, whether a temporary hearing or the final trial. Knowing roughly what to expect makes it far less stressful.
Getting ready
- Get a full night’s sleep beforehand — court is tiring even when it goes well.
- Confirm the courthouse location and parking, and plan to arrive with real buffer time for traffic and security lines.
- Lay out documents and clothing the night before so the morning is calm.
- Bring something to read or a friend for company — there’s often significant waiting time.
The basic order of events
- The judge confirms which issues are agreed (“stipulations”) and which remain contested.
- Each side presents testimony, starting with the party who filed the request — direct examination by their own attorney, then cross-examination by the other side.
- Documents get formally “marked” and then “received” as evidence, which requires establishing that they’re authentic.
- After both sides finish, attorneys give closing arguments summarizing their case.
- The judge rules immediately in open court, or takes the matter “under submission” and issues a written ruling later.
A few rules for testifying
- Wait for the question to fully finish before answering.
- Answer only what’s asked — don’t guess, and don’t volunteer extra information.
- Speak clearly, and say “yes” or “no” rather than “uh-huh.”
- If you need a moment, or feel unable to continue, say so — the judge would rather pause than have a confused answer on the record.
Family courts are often backed up, so don’t be surprised if your case is continued to another day even if it’s on the calendar — it’s common and not a reflection on your case.