What Is the Purpose of an Affidavit in a Custody Case?

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An affidavit is a specific type of legal document filed by people who have information relevant to a court matter. Courts often rely upon written, notarized and voluntarily submitted affidavits to help them decide child custody matters. Since state laws govern family law matters such as divorce and child custody, the forms you'll need to file when you petition for child custody can vary from state to state.

Basic Information

Many states require a person seeking custody of a child to file an affidavit that contains little more than basic information. In Massachusetts, for instance, any party who seeks custody of a child must complete an Affidavit Disclosing Care or Custody Proceeding. This form asks the person who is requesting custody to list the names of the children whose custody is at issue, the addresses of all relevant parties, and provide other basic legal pertaining to the case.

Relevant Facts

While some state family courts ask people seeking custody to fill out an affidavit that is little more than a form, others require them to provide relevant facts that might justify an award of custody. People filing this kind of affidavit should not include opinion, irrelevant facts or legal argument. They must not mention settlement negotiations, nor should they mention rumors they've heard from others. They should simply state the relevant facts in a neutral tone.

Witnesses

Some state courts accept affidavits from people who are not seeking custody of the child. If properly prepared, these affidavits, which are sort of like letters to the court, can provide the court with important information. An affidavit filed to support another person's claim of custody should take a neutral tone, because judges tend to disregard affidavits that seem overly opinionated. People submitting an affidavit should begin by providing the judge with their background and connection to the case. Then they should list facts the judge might consider relevant.

Child Affidavits

A child may file an affidavit with the court stating that he prefers to live with a particular party. Usually, the child must reach a particular age before filing such an affidavit. For example, in Texas, the child must reach the age of 10. A child's affidavit can carry great weight with the parties seeking custody and the judge. Children can communicate their wishes by speaking directly with a judge in the judge's chambers in some states.

Modifying a Custody Order

The party can also file an affidavit in support of a motion to modify custody. Depending on the state, these affidavits can contain either basic personal information or they can contain substantive information. In the latter case, the affidavit often must explain exactly why the court should alter the child's current custody arrangement. For example, in Oregon, a parent might argue that the other parent is guilty of gross moral misconduct, that the parent is unstable, or that the child is endangered in the care of the other parent.