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Putting your side on paper.

Your statement or affidavit is often the judge’s first real picture of you. It isn’t the place to win an argument. It’s where you set out the facts in order, each one shown by a paper, and say what you’re asking for and why it’s best for your child. Short, factual, numbered, true.

7 minute readFor England & Wales, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, with California and Ontario as US and Canadian examplesLast checked 2 October 2026

If a child or anyone is in danger now, call 999 (UK), 112 (Ireland), 000 (Australia), 911 (US and Canada) or 111 (New Zealand).

How a statement is built

One page, seven parts.

Tap each part of this sample statement to see what it does. The name and the wording at the end differ by country: choose yours below.

Sample. Names and dates are fictional.

Where you live

General information, checked against official sources on 2 October 2026. It isn’t advice about your case. The rules in their own words ↓

Short, factual, numbered. True.

Writing it

Write it in this order.

Getting the order right does half the work. Then cut.

  1. Who you are.Your relationship to your child, and why you’re writing.
  2. How things have been.In date order: the arrangements so far, and what changed.
  3. How things are now.Where your child lives, the time they spend with each parent, school, health, activities.
  4. Their points, one by one.Agree where it’s true. Where it isn’t, say what happened and show the paper.
  5. What you’re asking for.The exact arrangement, and why it’s best for your child.
  6. The papers you rely on.Numbered, in order, and referred to by page.
  7. Read it aloud, then cut.Remove anything about feelings, labels or the past that doesn’t affect your child now.

If the court has given directions about statements in your case, such as a page limit or a date, those come first.

Free tool

Your statement and papers, in one numbered bundle.

Drop in your statement and the papers it refers to. You get one PDF with an index and every page numbered, so “page 7” means the same thing to everyone. It runs in this browser; nothing is uploaded.

Drop your statement and papers hereor click to choose. PDFs and photos, in the order you want them.

    Answering their statement? Go through it point by point →

    See it in the app

    The facts in order, each with its page.

    1. Add your papers.Both sides’ statements, messages, letters. Before the language model reads a word, names become tags.
    2. The facts in date order.Every dated event with its source: the backbone of what you write.
    3. It quotes the law where you live. Coming in early accessThe sections that apply to your case, in the law’s own words, with a link to the official text. Change the country above and it changes too.
    4. It prepares the outline.The order to tell it in, each point with the paper it rests on. You write the statement, in your own words.

    Sample case. Names and papers are fictional.

    What the rules say

    The rules, in their own words.

    Five questions about statements and affidavits, answered only from the court rules and official guidance, with the passage that answers it highlighted.

    Where you live

    Quoted from the official text. It isn’t advice about your case, and laws and rules change: check the official site. In the US and Canada these matters are set by each state and province; California and Ontario are shown as examples.

    Questions people ask

    The questions that keep you up at night.

    How long should my statement be?

    As short as it can be while covering what matters. Some courts set page limits, and a judge can set one in your case; see “What the rules say” below and check any directions you’ve been given.

    Can I say how I feel?

    Briefly, where it matters to your child’s arrangements. Courts decide on facts and on what’s best for the child, so keep the focus there.

    Should I write about the other parent’s faults?

    Only where it affects your child, and then as facts with dates and papers, not labels. A calm statement about your child reads better than an attack.

    What if something in my statement turns out to be wrong?

    Correct it as soon as you can, ideally with advice. Tell the court what was wrong and why. Don’t leave a known mistake in place.

    Can family or friends write statements too?

    Often, if what they saw is relevant, but the rules differ. In England and Wales the court must direct it first; in Ireland’s District Court witnesses usually give evidence in person; elsewhere they usually write their own affidavit or declaration. See “What the rules say” for where you live.

    Do I need a lawyer to write it?

    You don’t have to have one: many parents write their own. Getting advice, even once, is worth it if you can, and a lawyer can check it before it’s filed for a fixed fee: ask for “limited scope” or “unbundled” help.

    You’re not alone

    You don’t have to do this alone.

    Legal aid isn’t available to everyone, so many parents do some or all of this themselves. Free and low-cost help exists: check whether you qualify, and get advice where it counts.

    Free and low-cost legal help
      Someone to talk to, any time
        If anyone is in danger

          Showing help for England & Wales. Change it with “Where you live” above.

          “I built this after going through it myself.” — Andrew, founder

          With a lawyer or without one, walk in with your papers in order.

          PROVEAiBLE reads your papers, sets out the facts with their pages, shows where the papers disagree, quotes the law for where you live, and prepares your papers for the hearing. It never tells you which legal step to take, or how it will turn out. Law for more countries: coming in early access

          Join early accessFree tools →More guides →
          Sources, checked 2 October 2026

          General information, not legal advice. Laws, rules and court processes change; check the official pages and your own papers before you act.