HOW IT WORKS

A practical workflow for a case that will not stay tidy on its own.

Steadycase is not a lawyer and not an answer machine. It is a preparation system: organize your facts, map the official sources, connect proof to issues, and keep deadlines visible.

Diagram showing how Compass, the State Rules tab, facts and proof, and court prep connect

THE WORKFLOW

From scattered case materials to a working court file.

Use the notebook as the home base. Use Compass when you need to verify where your state's rules and court resources are published. To see the Custody Trial Notebook itself, eight short videos walk through it a section at a time.

Choose the right notebook

Custody only, or divorce with custody and finances. Start with the workbook that matches the case you are actually in.

Fill the State Rules tab

Use official sources, court orders, and Compass to record the sources you need for deadlines, forms, fees, and state-specific rules.

Build the facts and proof

Enter the timeline, custody or financial facts, discovery, exhibits, witnesses, testimony outlines, and foundation notes.

Prepare for court

Turn the organized file into requested relief, a pretrial statement, opening, closing, deadline tracking, and final checks.

THE CENTER OF GRAVITY

The State Rules tab is where the templates become your state's working file.

Family law is state-specific, and sometimes local. The workbook gives you a place to enter your verified sources; Compass helps you start from official sources instead of search results.

—Response deadline sources and rule citations.

—Filing-fee and forms locations.

—Child-support calculator source, where available.

—Best-interest factors or the source that controls them.

—Self-help, legal-aid, and referral resources.

Workflow diagram showing how official sources connect to workbook facts, proof, and court prep

BOUNDARIES

Why Steadycase makes you verify rules yourself.

It would be more tempting to sell people neat answers. It would also be riskier for them and for the product.

Rules change.

Court rules, forms, filing fees, calculators, local orders, and self-help pages can change. A date or number copied from any static guide can go stale.

Facts matter.

Whether a rule applies to your situation can depend on service method, county, orders already entered, emergency posture, or facts Steadycase has not reviewed.

Official sources are the anchor.

Compass points to official places to verify. The workbook gives you a place to record what you verify and connect it to your case preparation.

Human help still matters.

If you face emergency issues, unclear deadlines, safety concerns, relocation, interstate custody, or serious financial disputes, get human legal help if you can.

NEED LEGAL ADVICE?

Steadycase is not a substitute for a lawyer.

Many courts have self-help centers, family-law facilitators, legal-aid organizations, and lawyer referral services. Compass includes official starting points where available, and LawHelp.org can point you toward legal aid resources.

Legal information, not legal advice. Steadycase does not apply law to your situation, create an attorney-client relationship, or predict or promise an outcome. It is a preparation and organization system.