1. Stay calm.

2. Avoid making unnecessary negative comments regarding the other parent’s skills or abilities as a parent. Stick to the facts. Do not insult the other parent or his or her ability to raise your child or children. 

3. Emphasize your strengths, including your stability, your house, your secure job, your ability to arrange daycare, your support network of friends, and the children’s wish to be with you.

4. Do not lie about anything, even if you think it would make your case look better.

5. Think before you talk.

6. Answer only the question asked. Some questions will be "fishing" which means they are asking for any and all information you can give.

7. If you do not know what a question means, ask before your answer, or try to rephrase the question in your own words to make sure of what the evaluator wants.

8. Try to like the evaluator and get along with him or her.   Be as cooperative as possible.

9. Do not refuse to answer a question. If you do not know the answer, then say so.

10. Report what the child(ren) have told you, but do not add any emphasis to it. In other words, "the kids say the the other parent's apartment is small." Not "the kids say the other parent's apartment is so tiny that they do not have room to play."  Use nouns and verbs when describing the other parent's actions, not adjectives or adverbs.

11. If applicable, makes sure you mention that you would like to go to marital counseling and have offered this but the other parents refuses to go (or quit going).

12. Tell the evaluator, "I just want what is best for the child. I think ____ custody would be best, but if you and the Court decide otherwise, then I will go along with it."

13. If you want something unique, or different, than what the Indiana Parenting Time Guidelines state is the normal rule, then be prepared to explain why this is in your child’s best interest.

14. You will have to write an autobiography. Be prepared to explain how you grew up and any past experiences you have had.

15. If you have a family history of domestic violence, drug or alcohol abuse or criminal cases, be prepared to explain your situation and how the issue has been addressed, i.e., "I have gone to drug and alcohol counseling". 

16.   Be prepared to explain your method of discipline for the child or children. 

17.    Be honest about your weaknesses as a parent.  It is not realistic to say, "I don't have any".  Every parent has an issue he or she should be working on regarding an individual child. 

18.     Meet with your attorney before you submit your autobiography AND before you attend the custody evaluation.  This is very important.  You are paying your attorney to advise you -- let your attorney do his or her job.