Your Final Court Case Rehearsal Dinner

About this episode

Fred Campos, @FullCustodyDad, discusses all the elements that make up your Final Court hearing. Like a wedding rehearsal dinner, Fred outlines the evidence and witnesses you need to have pre-prepared for in regard to this all-important event. Fred outlines three helpers, and eight important task you need that of your final and how to organize them into a winning case.

Life Comes Down to a Few Moments Your Day in Court is One of Them

• You Rehearse the Important Days of Your Life
• You Invite Everyone to These Important Days
• Your Final Day in Court is a Very, Very, Serious Moment
• Plan for It and Treat It as Such

Eight Key Factors for a Winning Final Court Case

1. Your Appearance and Conduct in and Around Court – You must dress for success, wear a suit if you are a guy, and be cordial to EVERYBODY you meet. Your court conduct begins and ends from your car.

2. What Judges and Juries Look for in a Custodial Parent

• Kid-Centric Parents
• One who doesn’t speak ill of their Ex
• One who has the most time to raise the kids
• One who can be fair to co-parenting issues
• One who is stable

3. Pre-Visit Court and Find Parking, Bathrooms, Meeting Rooms & Courtroom

• Like a Dress Rehearsal, You Need to Know Where You’re Going
• Know Where to Park
• Know Where the Bathrooms Are
• Know Where to Meet Your Attorney
• Know Where to Meet Your Helpers

4. Working with Your Attorney About Yours/His Court Day Plans

• Listen to Your Attorney’s Suggestions
• She Does this for a Living
• Bring 100% of What is Required
• Make Suggestions but Yield to Your Attorney
• Keep Notes During Trial

5. Giving Instructions to Your Key Called Witnesses & Helpers for Court

Give Your Witnesses Written Instructions:

• Where to Park
• Where to Meet
• What to Bring

Give Them an Overview of What They Will Testify Too, but Don’t Write it

• DownThe Role of Your Evidence Puller Helper
• You Are Not Alone, You Can Have Helpers
• If You are Remarried, This Should Be Your Wife
• This Can Be Your Attorney’s Helper
• They Should Sit with You at Your Attorney’s Desk

The Role of Your Witness Finder Helper

• Clipboard Friend Who is in Charge of Finding and Checking In All Your Witnesses
• Has a List of Cell Phone Numbers
• Needs to Know and Communicate with Your Attorney
• Keeps Track of Opposing Witnesses in the Hall

The Role of Your Courtroom Thermometer Helper

• A Friend Who’s Job is to Only Sit and Watch Everything
• She Should Take Notes on Her Opinion of How the Case is Going
• Sits in the Back, Doesn’t Draw Attention to Themselves

6. Organize a Mid-Day Lunch Meeting with Your Helpers

• Have Lunch with Your Attorney & Helpers
• Let the Thermometer Helper Go First and Recap & Grade You
• Listen to the Thermometer Helper
• Make Changes to Your Witness List and Court Plan
• Listen to Your Attorney

7. Practice Your Testimony and Cross-Examination Questions

• Practice Answering Questions with Your Attorney and Friends
• Allow Other to Critique You
• Role Play Cross-Examination
• Practice “Yes,” “No,” “I Don’t Know,” “Perhaps” and “Long Answers”
• Review Signals with Attorneys

8. Finalize Your Court Day Written Plan & Pass Out Contact Info

• Update Your Plan
• Write It Out
• Make Copies
• Pass Out Contact Information to Your Helpers
• Make Yourself a Cheat Sheet
• Why You Want Custody
• Why Your Ex Should Not Have Custody
• Facts About Your Kids
• Get Some Rest

Resources & Links

• Showtime Begins & Ends in Court from Your Car
• Buy or Clean a Coat, Tie & Suit Prior to Court
• Court Conduct, You Never Know Who’s Watching
• Going to Court, Where Should You Park?