Child Custody Evidence Checklist in the Philippines

Use this checklist to organize evidence about the child’s safety, stability, care and best interests—not to “score” either parent. Custody decisions are fact-specific. Article 213 of the Family Code and the Rule on Custody of Minors require close attention to the child’s welfare; no checklist decides a case automatically.

Safety and privacy first

  • If a child or caregiver faces immediate danger, contact the proper police, barangay, social-welfare office, court or emergency service.
  • Keep the child’s medical, school and identity records private.
  • Do not coach a child, alter evidence, enter another person’s account, or publish accusations and private records online.

1. Case snapshot

Detail Your entry
Child, age and present residence ____________________________
Parents married/unmarried; child’s filiation status ____________________________
Current caregiving arrangement ____________________________
Existing custody, support or protection order ____________________________
Immediate safety or travel concern ____________________________

2. Child’s needs and routine

Area Current need or routine Who handles it? Document/witness
Home and daily schedule ________ ________ ________
School and transport ________ ________ ________
Medical and dental care ________ ________ ________
Therapy or special needs ________ ________ ________
Religious/cultural routine ________ ________ ________
Relationship with siblings and family ________ ________ ________

3. Caregiving history

Dates Where child lived Primary daily caregiver School/medical tasks handled Proof or witness
________ ________ ________ ________ ________
________ ________ ________ ________ ________
________ ________ ________ ________ ________
________ ________ ________ ________ ________

4. Best-interest evidence checklist

  • ☐ Safe housing and reliable supervision
  • ☐ Stability of home, school and routine
  • ☐ History of daily care and decision-making
  • ☐ Education, health and special-needs support
  • ☐ Child’s relationships with parents, siblings and caregivers
  • ☐ Each parent’s ability to support safe, lawful contact
  • ☐ Child’s preference when legally and developmentally appropriate
  • ☐ Lawful evidence of violence, abuse, neglect, coercion or substance misuse
  • ☐ Compliance with existing orders and agreed schedules

5. Incident log

Date/time What happened—facts only Effect on child Witness/report/file Action taken
________ ________ ________ ________ ________
________ ________ ________ ________ ________
________ ________ ________ ________ ________
________ ________ ________ ________ ________
________ ________ ________ ________ ________

6. Documents and witnesses

  • ☐ PSA birth certificate and marriage records, if relevant
  • ☐ Existing custody, support, travel or protection orders
  • ☐ School attendance, report and communication records
  • ☐ Medical and therapy records obtained lawfully
  • ☐ Barangay, police, social-worker or VAWC records
  • ☐ Support and caregiving expense records
  • ☐ Original communications, photos and videos with dates/metadata
  • ☐ Witness list: what each person directly saw or did

7. Preserve digital evidence

  1. Keep the original file or device copy and do not edit it.
  2. Export full message threads where possible, not isolated screenshots.
  3. Record the source, date obtained and who handled each copy.
  4. Back up securely and share only with authorized professionals or authorities.

8. Safe next steps

  1. Arrange the timeline and documents by issue, date and source.
  2. Separate first-hand facts from conclusions or hearsay.
  3. Review the custody factors and evidence guide and the custody and parental-authority hub.
  4. For unmarried parents, read the unmarried-parents custody guide. For urgent recovery or violence issues, review the habeas corpus guide and VAWC protection-order options.

Legal basis

See Articles 209–233 of the Family Code of the Philippines (Executive Order No. 209), particularly Article 213, and verify current procedure in the Supreme Court’s Rule on Custody of Minors (A.M. No. 03-04-04-SC).

This educational worksheet helps organize facts and documents. It does not determine legal rights, guarantee an outcome, or replace advice from a Philippine lawyer or the current requirements of the proper court or agency.