Don’t let your kids write to the judge

Posted May 18th, 2016.

Categories: Custody Tips, Family Law.

writing letter to judge mark guralnick

Some parents think they can gain an edge in a child custody case by having their children write to the judge. Worse yet, they help the children put their words on paper, effectively ghostwriting private notes to the judge.

This is wrong on many levels.

First, most judges disapprove of children getting in the middle of a custody fight. When kids pen a personal missive to the judge, they’re generally taking sides and becoming litigants or witnesses themselves.

Secondly, when a judge receives a letter from a child, judicial policy usually requires him to ignore the correspondence, return the correspondence, or distribute it to all attorneys in the case.

A letter from a child that was coached, corrected or ghost-written by a parent may reflect the over-involvement of the parent, the unfair tactical devices of the parent or perhaps the parent’s dangerous victimization of the child (as in parental alienation syndrome).

If you believe your child has something independent to say about a child custody dispute, encourage him to communicate directly to you. Invite him to record his thoughts in a personal journal. If appropriate, have your child express his thoughts to a counselor, social worker or psychologist. Do not allow or permit your child to join you in the legal dispute.

Share this Post

Read Our Latest Blog Posts

Contact Us Today for a No-Fee Consultation!

Timely, effective legal services with down-to-Earth, common sense advice, provided to individuals, businesses, and organizations.

The legal team at the Law Offices of Mark S. Guralnick is happy to assist you with your legal problems, no matter how big or small. We serve clients throughout the United States and across the world.

Feel free to contact us toll-free at 1-866-337-2900.

    8 College
    Degrees
    6 Specialty
    Certifications
    9 Bar
    Licenses
    10 Law
    Books
    8 Professional
    Awards
    30+ Years of
    Experience
    100+ Published
    Articles

    Licensed as a private detective, Mark Guralnick is a former investigative news reporter, and leverages these skills and experiences to deliver excellent client service while finding smart, practical, cost-effective solutions.

    See What We Can Do For You
    Back to Top