How to go about preparing documentation for court?

[dipper]

HI Soc,

Hearing in three weeks on five matters - custody, medical copays adjustment, show cause, and the bm filed for medical bills unpaid and to have 'me' provide more transportation.  I have no choice but to go pro se.

In preparing for court, I find that things such as letters which I would like to use for show cause and custody, may also be useful for the unpaid medical hearing.  What I have done so far is basically get folders for all cases - made a set of folders for myself, her lawyer, and judge.  That way all documentation presented as evidence will be handed to each party.  

I do not want to committ overkill on documentation.  For example, letter #1 in folders show cause and medical unpaid for all.......letter #2 under custody and medical unpaid.  

Also, as I am going pro se money is an issue.  I cannot afford $1000 for a counselor to come in and discuss ADHD and the surrounding problems.  There is information on the National Institute for Mental Health site that I would like to use.  Not as a definite, but more as a reference, " Are you aware that the National Institute for Mental health puts untreated ADHD children at much more risk for injury than those treated or without ADHD?"

Also, while I have filed a show cause I have planned no formal outline as I have seen posted on this board and others....I thought it was simply presenting what had happened.

So, my questions are

1 - Do I provide a letter for each different subject or do something such as highlight in different colors and present one stack of letters to each and refer to them according to subject color?

2 - Would using an organization such as NIMH for reference, without saying this IS specifically what happened in son's situation be admissable?

3 - Should I file a written formal explanation for the show cause - or have one ready for the judge on day of court?


Thank you and I hope I havent confused you - it was hard to phrase exactly what I wanted to say....

[socrateaser]

>HI Soc,
>
>Hearing in three weeks on five matters - custody, medical
>copays adjustment, show cause, and the bm filed for medical
>bills unpaid and to have 'me' provide more transportation.  I
>have no choice but to go pro se.
>
>In preparing for court, I find that things such as letters
>which I would like to use for show cause and custody, may also
>be useful for the unpaid medical hearing.  What I have done so
>far is basically get folders for all cases - made a set of
>folders for myself, her lawyer, and judge.  That way all
>documentation presented as evidence will be handed to each
>party.  
>
>I do not want to committ overkill on documentation.  For
>example, letter #1 in folders show cause and medical unpaid
>for all.......letter #2 under custody and medical unpaid.  
>
>Also, as I am going pro se money is an issue.  I cannot afford
>$1000 for a counselor to come in and discuss ADHD and the
>surrounding problems.  There is information on the National
>Institute for Mental Health site that I would like to use.
>Not as a definite, but more as a reference, " Are you aware
>that the National Institute for Mental health puts untreated
>ADHD children at much more risk for injury than those treated
>or without ADHD?"
>
>Also, while I have filed a show cause I have planned no formal
>outline as I have seen posted on this board and others....I
>thought it was simply presenting what had happened.
>
>So, my questions are
>
>1 - Do I provide a letter for each different subject or do
>something such as highlight in different colors and present
>one stack of letters to each and refer to them according to
>subject color?

You provide proof and/or law, as necessary to support your allegations and your right to a specific remedy. You can use the same evidence to prove different things, as long as the evidence is relevant, and has never been previously offered to prove the same allegation in a different hearing.

Use the most compelling evidence to support your case, regardless of whether you already used it, unless something else is equally compelling, in which case, use every compelling item for every relevant issue. If opposing counsel thinks that you are improperly compounding evidence, then he/she can object.

As for how to physically compile a case file, that's out of scope for this forum. It's too hard to describe in just a few words.

>2 - Would using an organization such as NIMH for reference,
>without saying this IS specifically what happened in son's
>situation be admissable?

Very, very, very doubtful without an expert witness to explain what the report means.

>3 - Should I file a written formal explanation for the show
>cause - or have one ready for the judge on day of court?

I'm not sure what you're talking about. Pleaes rephrase.