In 2021, I got shoved onto the divorce roller coaster I never bought a ticket for. Manipulation, paperwork, panic—the whole mess. The best early advice I got was annoyingly spot-on: learn your local family law and document everything.
So I did. I spent night after night studying case law, binge-watching lectures, and building a DIY case file from scratch. I was exhausted. Confused. And honestly? Lonely.
Then in 2023 I saw a video called “ChatGPT for Law.” Pivot point. I started using AI to summarize decisions, structure incident logs, outline forms—basically to make sense of the chaos. As the tech leveled up, so did my workflows. The survival hacks became a system.
That system is CustodyBuddy.
What CustodyBuddy Does (human language only)
- Turns “document everything” into a 10-minute habit. Fast prompts help you log missed exchanges, hostile messages, and safety issues—clean, consistent, searchable. No more midnight Franken-timelines.
- Translates your paperwork. Upload docs and get the key issues in plain English, plus next-step suggestions you can actually act on.
- Surfaces on-point case law. Skip slogging through 40 opinions. Get targeted excerpts and patterns to discuss with a lawyer.
- Drafts calm, professional responses. When emotions are hot, it helps you reply clearly and assertively—without adding fuel.
- Builds timelines and summaries on demand. Court-ready overviews in a consistent format, every time.
Friendly note: CustodyBuddy empowers self-represented parents, but it’s not legal advice and not a substitute for a lawyer. Use it to prepare smarter conversations with professionals.
How It Saves Me 20+ hours/week
Before CustodyBuddy, I was ricocheting between PDFs, email threads, bookmarks, screenshots, and sticky notes. Now it’s one simple flow:
- Daily logging (5–10 minutes): record what matters with the right labels for easy retrieval later.
- Inbox triage: summarize long threads in seconds, then generate a clear, neutral reply.
- Case-law research: start with targeted digests and citations—not open-ended rabbit holes.
- Prep packs: when something’s due, export the bundle—timeline, incidents, notes—without reinventing the wheel.
Want your personal [X]? Do this quick math:
- Time you used to spend each week on logging, emails, research, and prep minus
- Time spent on the same with CustodyBuddy
- = your hours saved
For me, it shakes out to about a full workday every week—which I now spend on rest, real parenting, and actual strategy instead of re-formatting and re-reading.
Why I’m Keeping It Free
I saw tools paywall the basics. I get that software costs money—but I also know what it’s like to face court while juggling bills. My goal is to keep CustodyBuddy free, sustain it with organic traffic + responsible ads, and accept optional donations. If it helps you breathe easier, that’s the win.
Who CustodyBuddy Is For
- Parents in high-conflict custody/support situations
- Self-represented litigants who need clarity, consistency, and calm
- Anyone determined to show up organized and credible—on paper and in person
What I Wish I’d Had on Day One
- One place to capture facts without drama
- Clear explanations of what this document means + what to do next
- Research that stays on-topic and respects your time
- Tools that help you communicate like a pro, even when you don’t feel like one
That’s what I built.
A Personal Note
If you’re in the thick of it, I see you. CustodyBuddy was born from late nights, hard lessons, and the stubborn belief that parents deserve better tools—and better outcomes. Use what helps, ignore what doesn’t, and keep going. You are not alone, and you’re more capable than this moment is making you feel.
Try CustodyBuddy. If it saves you time (or sanity) and you want to keep it free for the next parent, consider leaving a review, sharing it, or tossing a small donation in the hat. Every bit helps.
This is general information, not legal advice. For guidance on your situation, consult a qualified professional.