Incident Diary Examples for UK Family Court

Informational only. For legal advice about your case, speak to a solicitor. In emergencies, call 999.

Anatomy of a solid entry

• Date/time & location
• What happened (2–4 sentences, factual)
• Tags (missed handover, boundary breach, coercive control cue)
• Attachments (screenshots, photos, docs)
• Impact (child impact, schedule disruption, safety concern)

Example 1: Missed handover

• When/where: 12 Jan 2025, 17:30, school gate.
• What: Co-parent arrived 25 mins late. No notice. Child waited with staff; was upset.
• Tag: missed handover.
• Attachment: Photo of sign-out sheet.
• Impact: Child anxious; bedtime delayed.

Example 2: Boundary breach (messaging)

• When: 18 Jan 2025, 22:45.
• What: Received 5 messages after agreed 9pm cut-off. Content: accusations about schedule.
• Tag: boundary breach; escalation risk.
• Attachment: Screenshots (redacted for children’s names).
• Impact: Disturbed sleep; noted for pattern tracking.

Example 3: Possible coercive control cue

• When: 20 Jan 2025, 08:10.
• What: Message: “If you tell your solicitor anything, I’ll make sure you regret it.” No specifics.
• Tag: coercive control cue; threat.
• Attachment: Screenshot.
• Impact: Logged for solicitor; considering safety plan review.

Tips

• Keep it brief and factual; avoid speculation.
• Add attachments when safe; redact children’s personal info.
• Use consistent tags so patterns appear in timelines.
• Log impact on children where relevant.

FAQ

Do I need to log everything? Focus on relevant incidents, patterns, and order breaches.
Should I include feelings? Keep entries factual; note observable impact (e.g., “child was tearful”).
Will this be seen by the other party? Treat entries as potentially disclosable; keep tone neutral.
Emergencies? Call 999. Do not rely on logs for urgent safety.

Next step: See how entries roll into timelines and bundle previews in the public explainer at /evidence-locker-uk.