> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.paxton.ai/help/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.paxton.ai/help/resources-by-practice-area/family-law.md).

# Family Law

Divorce, custody, support, and post-judgment work. Paxton helps reconcile financial disclosures, draft petitions and settlement agreements, and compare custody-factor authority across jurisdictions.

**Where Paxton helps most in family law** Document analysis (financial affidavits vs. tax returns and bank statements), drafting (petitions, MSAs, parenting plans), and research (custody factors, equitable distribution, modifications) — all with the case context kept in a Matter.

## Recommended workflow

1. **Open a Matter** with parties, jurisdiction, marriage date, separation date, children's names and ages, and a one-line goal (e.g., "negotiated MSA with 50/50 custody and equitable property split").
2. **Upload financial documents** from both sides: affidavits / disclosure statements, tax returns (3+ years), pay stubs, bank/credit card statements, retirement statements, real estate records.
3. **In the Assistant, run a reconciliation prompt** to spot inconsistencies between the affidavit and supporting records.
4. **Draft petitions, MSAs, and parenting plans** in the same conversation, from the established facts.
5. **Research jurisdiction-specific issues** (custody factors, equitable vs. community property nuances, support deviation grounds) with Sources on, before negotiating.

## Sample prompts

### Financial affidavit reconciliation

Compare the attached financial affidavit for \[Party] against the attached bank statements, tax returns, and pay stubs. For each line item (income, monthly expenses, assets, debts), identify any inconsistency. Output as a table: Item · Affidavit amount · Source-record amount · Difference · Likely explanation or follow-up needed.

### Hidden income / asset analysis

Review the attached bank and credit card statements for \[Party] from \[date range]. Identify: (a) recurring deposits inconsistent with reported income, (b) transfers to other accounts or third parties, (c) large unexplained cash withdrawals, (d) business expenses that look personal, (e) any account or asset referenced in the records but not disclosed on the financial affidavit. Cite specific statement dates and amounts.

### Draft a Petition for Dissolution

Draft a Petition for Dissolution of Marriage in \[Jurisdiction]. Marriage date \[X], separation date \[Y], jurisdictional and residency facts as in Matter Context. Children: \[names, DOBs]. Request: dissolution, equitable distribution / community property division, \[primary / shared] custody, child support per guideline, spousal maintenance, attorney's fees. Match the local court's required format.

### Marital Settlement Agreement

Draft an MSA based on the following terms: \[list terms — property division, custody schedule, support amounts, etc.]. Include standard provisions for tax treatment, life insurance to secure support, modification standards, dispute resolution, and a full release of marital claims. Bracket any term that needs further negotiation. Plain-English narrative sections + numbered operative paragraphs.

### Parenting plan

Draft a Parenting Plan for two children ages \[X] and \[Y] with the following schedule: \[describe — e.g., 2-2-3, alternating weeks, school-year vs. summer]. Include: holiday schedule (Christmas Eve / Day, Thanksgiving, Easter, spring break, summer), pickup/drop-off logistics, transportation, communication during the other parent's time, decision-making allocation for education / healthcare / religion / extracurriculars, relocation provisions, right of first refusal for caregiving, dispute-resolution mechanism.

### Custody-factor analysis

Identify the statutory best-interest factors for child custody in \[State]. For each factor, apply the facts from the attached intake notes and any disclosed records to argue for \[primary residential parent / shared / specific schedule]. Cite the state statute and one leading appellate case per factor where available.

### Support calculation memo

Calculate guideline child support for \[State] given: Parent A income $X/year, Parent B income $Y/year, \[N] children, custodial timeshare \[%], healthcare cost allocation \[Z]. Use the state's guideline calculation. Then identify any grounds for deviation supported by the facts. Cite the relevant statute and case law.

## Example workflow: contested divorce, intake to MSA

1. Intake meeting → Matter Context filled out.
2. Send mandatory financial disclosure requests; upload responses to Matter as received.
3. Run reconciliation prompt; flag discrepancies for follow-up discovery.
4. Draft petition; file.
5. Hidden-asset prompt during discovery on the longer-document tranches.
6. Custody-factor analysis to support negotiation.
7. Use Paxton to draft proposal/counter-proposal MSAs through negotiation rounds.
8. Finalize MSA; convert to consent order.

{% hint style="info" %}
Confidentiality matters Family-law records are uniquely sensitive — financial accounts, children's records, sometimes mental-health or domestic-violence material. Paxton is SOC 2 / HIPAA-compliant and does not use your data to train models. Use Matters to keep cases separated.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="warning" %}
Verify support / property math independently Treat any AI-generated support calculation or property division as a starting point. Re-run the math through your firm's guideline calculator or spreadsheet before signing or filing.
{% endhint %}


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