Parents recording their children to gather evidence for family court cases can be problematic, potentially backfiring legally and causing psychological harm to children caught in the middle of custody battles. The hosts examine when documentation helps versus when it makes a parent look unreasonable to judges who regularly see severe cases of abuse and neglect.
• Photos of minor injuries like bruises from normal childhood activities often appear trivial to judges
• Children may sense parental reactions and say what they think parents want to hear
• Recording without a child's knowledge can breach trust and damage your relationship
• Courts may view recorded evidence as coaching or manipulation
• Professional documentation through therapists or medical providers carries more weight
• Communication with your co-parent before making accusations demonstrates good co-parenting
• Forensically-informed therapists understand how to properly document concerns
• Parents have a legal duty to report legitimate abuse concerns to proper authorities
• Consider the emotional impact on your child before recording them for evidence
• Focus on the child's best interests rather than winning your legal case
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