Going to Court
Case Management Conference / Early Case Evaluation
After the Defendant files an Answer, the judge will set a hearing for the parties to appear in court. This hearing is called the "Early Case Evaluation" or the “Case Management Conference.” Read on for more information about the purpose of this hearing, when it will happen, and what to expect.
Motions (and Oppositions!) for Temporary Custody / Paternity Orders
It may take a while until your custody case is finished and the judge enters all the final orders. If there are some issues that you would like the judge to sort out while you are waiting for the final decision (such as DNA testing or temporary custody or child support issues), you can find information on this page about how to ask for temporary orders, and how to respond to a motion for temporary orders filed against you.
The Custody Trial
If you and the other parent are not able to settle your case and reach a full agreement, the judge will have to set an “Evidentiary Hearing” or a “Trial.” If the judge sets an evidentiary hearing or a trial in your case, you can find information on this page about how to prepare, documents to file, and what to expect.
