Steadycase
CUSTODY ONLY

Steadycase Custody Trial Notebook

A structured workbook for self-represented parents preparing a contested custody case: rules, dates, parenting evidence, exhibits, witnesses, requested orders, and court prep in one working file.

Excel + Google Sheets User manual Getting-started guide $69
Preview of the Steadycase Custody Trial Notebook workbook closeup
WATCH

See it before you buy it.

Eight short videos walk through this notebook a section at a time — the actual pages on screen, with sample entries in them. Start with the overview; the rest are two to three minutes each, with captions and transcripts.

01 · The whole notebook · 2:48 · captions on the player
  1. 02State Rules2:28
  2. 03Before you file2:45
  3. 04If you have just been served2:30
  4. 05When it cannot wait1:58
  5. 06Custody and child support2:45
  6. 07Exhibits and witnesses2:01
  7. 08Before you walk in2:40
Watch all eight, with transcripts →
WHAT IT IS FOR

When custody evidence is scattered, the notebook gives every piece a place.

Custody cases quickly become a mix of calendars, messages, school records, medical records, parenting schedules, witnesses, missed exchanges, and proposed orders. The Custody Trial Notebook is built to organize that material around what a court actually needs to see.

View 5 sample workbook pages →
HOW THE WORKBOOK WORKS

Start with orientation. Build toward court.

The tabs are arranged to help a non-lawyer move from urgent first steps to a printable, internally consistent trial file.

01
Set your state reference points
Use the State Rules tab to record official sources for response deadlines, forms, fees, child-support calculator, and best-interest factors.
02
Capture what happened
Build your timeline, parenting-time log, communications record, custody-factor notes, and key events as they happen.
03
Connect facts to proof
Link exhibits to witnesses, foundation notes, issue proved, admission status, discovery requests, and subpoenas.
04
Prepare the court-facing pieces
Use the relief, pretrial statement, opening, closing, deadlines, and Checks tabs before printing or going to court.
$69 ONE-TIME · INSTANT DOWNLOAD · YOURS TO KEEP

System requirements: Use a current version of Microsoft Excel for the XLSX workbook, or a Google account with Google Sheets in a current browser with cookies and JavaScript enabled. PDF guides open in any modern PDF reader. Older spreadsheet apps or very old devices may not support every workbook feature.

Checkout runs through a secure hosted checkout partner.

Notebook + Compass · one checkout

Add your state’s Compass for one payment, one download page.

The Custody Trial Notebook plus the Steadycase Compass for your state, delivered together. $89 for both (Compass is $29 on its own).

Just want the notebook? Use the button above. Compass on its own is $29 here.

Prefer paper? This notebook is also available as a fillable Print Edition — a $49 PDF binder with a 10-copy Continuation Pack included and no spreadsheet software required. See the Custody Print Edition →

What the Steadycase Compass is — a state-specific official-source map for court rules, forms, fees, calculators, and self-help resources. Bundle it above, or add it later: the $20 add-on offer also appears right after a notebook-only checkout. Learn more about Compass →

KEY TABS

Custody preparation is more than a list of documents.

CRISIS
First seven days after service
For defendants facing an answer deadline, default risk, allegations to admit or deny, and counter-petition decisions.
CUSTODY
Best-interest factors and parenting proof
Organize your position, evidence, witnesses, parenting-time log, current-vs-requested schedule, and parenting-plan terms.
PROOF
Exhibits and witnesses
Track exhibit numbers, source or witness, foundation notes, objections, admission status, and what each item proves.
FINISH
Relief, statements, deadlines, and Checks
Turn the organized file into the specific orders you ask for, trial documents, argument outlines, and a final review dashboard.
Preview of the core Steadycase notebook files and optional Compass add-on
01
Workbook
Excel and Google Sheets editions so you can use the format that fits your computer and comfort level.
02
User manual
A tab-by-tab explanation with sample case illustrations, warnings, and plain-language instructions.
03
Getting-started guide
A shorter path from download to a working file so you can begin without reading the full manual first.

Information, not legal advice. The notebook organizes your facts and points you to official sources. It does not apply the law to your situation, decide strategy, or create an attorney-client relationship.