Preparing your file for the family court judge in France

A case before the juge aux affaires familiales (JAF), the family court judge in France, is often prepared weeks in advance. What helps your lawyer most is a set of clear, dated, complete documents. Here is what the JAF does, the documents people usually gather, and a simple method to organize them.

The family court judge, in brief

The JAF is a judge of the tribunal judiciaire (the French first-instance civil court). The JAF handles divorce and matters of autorité parentale (parental authority).

In practice, the judge can rule on:

• where the children live;
• the droit de visite et d'hébergement (visitation and overnight stays with the other parent);
• the contribution to the children's upkeep and education, often called child support.

For that contribution, article 371-2 of the French Civil Code provides that each parent contributes in proportion to their resources, those of the other parent, and the needs of the child. That is why proof of income and expenses plays a large part in a file.

The judge may also propose or order family mediation (article 373-2-10 of the Civil Code). Here too, a clear file helps: the discussion can rest on dated facts rather than hazy memories.

With or without a lawyer?

It depends on the procedure.

• Divorce by mutual consent: since 2017, it is usually done without a judge. An agreement is countersigned by each spouse's lawyer, then filed with a notaire (a French public notary).
• Contested divorce: it goes before the JAF, and each spouse must be represented by a lawyer.
• Parental authority outside divorce (for example, unmarried parents who separate): a lawyer is not mandatory, but is recommended.

In every case, your lawyer decides which documents to submit and how to present them. Your role is to give them complete, readable material.

Documents people usually gather

Every case is different. This list is not exhaustive: your lawyer will tell you what is useful in your situation.

Civil status and existing decisions

• the livret de famille (the French family record book) or the children's birth certificates;
• any judgment or agreement already in place, for example on the children's residence or child support.

Income and expenses

• tax notices and recent payslips;
• regular expenses: rent, loans, insurance;
• if a prestation compensatoire (a compensatory payment between spouses) is at stake, each spouse provides a sworn statement on their resources, income, assets, and living conditions (article 272 of the Civil Code). Gathering the supporting documents early makes this easier.

The children

• expenses related to the children, with receipts: school meals, activities, medical costs;
• relevant school and medical documents.

The facts

• a dated timeline of the important events;
• relevant written exchanges, such as texts or emails;
• witness statements written in line with article 202 of the French Code of Civil Procedure. Our guide to witness statements explains what they should contain.

A simple method to organize your documents

1. Date each document by the date of the facts. A screenshot taken in June of a message received in February belongs in February, not June.
2. Keep the full original. Save the whole conversation, not a cropped screenshot. Context helps your lawyer understand the exchange and judge its relevance.
3. Sort by the fact you want to show. Instead of a "WhatsApp" folder and an "Email" folder, group documents by issue: missed weekends, unreimbursed expenses, school arrangements.
4. Number your documents. One number per document, in chronological order. Your lawyer can then refer to them easily.
5. Write a one-page summary. The situation, the key dates, what you are asking for. One page, no more.
6. Prepare your questions. Write them down before the first meeting: steps of the procedure, timelines, fees, missing documents.

Keeping the file up to date

A case can last several months. Write facts down as they happen, the same day if possible: the date, the place, what happened, who was there. Stay factual. Describe what you saw or received, without interpretation or judgment about the other parent.

Keep your documents somewhere safe, out of sight if the situation is tense. Make a backup copy of the important ones.

If you use Prismo, the dated log lets you record a fact in a few seconds and attach the related documents. The export for your lawyer then brings together the numbered documents and the timeline. Prismo does not replace your lawyer: it prepares their work.

If you or your children are in danger in France, call 17 or 112. The 3919 helpline supports women facing violence. The 119 line is for children at risk.

Key takeaways

• Under French law, the JAF handles contested divorce and parental authority: the children's residence, visitation and overnight stays, and child support.
• Gather civil status documents, existing decisions, income, expenses, children's costs, and a timeline.
• Date each document by the date of the facts and always keep the full original.
• Sort by the fact you want to show, number everything, then summarize on one page.
• Only your lawyer can assess your situation and choose which documents to submit.