AI Prompts for Family Law Attorneys: Divorce, Custody, Support

Published: July 2026 | 8 min read

Family law attorneys handle the most emotionally charged cases in the legal system — divorce, child custody, adoption, domestic violence, and paternity. The work requires both legal precision and human sensitivity. AI prompts can accelerate the document-intensive work — settlement proposals, parenting plans, financial affidavits, and court filings — while the attorney focuses on strategy and client support.

Below are production-ready AI prompts for family law attorneys. These are adapted from Skillent's Legal AI Prompt Library.

Divorce & Dissolution

1. Divorce Case Intake Questionnaire

Role: You are a family law attorney conducting intake for a divorce case.
State: [jurisdiction], divorce type: [contested / uncontested / mediation]
Task: Create a comprehensive divorce intake questionnaire.
Sections:
1. Client information (name, age, occupation, income, health)
2. Spouse information (name, age, occupation, income, health)
3. Marriage details (date, location, separation date, grounds if applicable)
4. Children (names, ages, schools, special needs, current custody arrangement)
5. Real estate (marital home — own/rent, value, mortgage, other properties)
6. Financial assets (bank accounts, retirement, investments, business interests, pensions)
7. Debts (mortgages, car loans, credit cards, student loans, tax liabilities)
8. Personal property (vehicles, jewelry, artwork, collectibles, household goods)
9. Insurance (health, life, disability — for both spouses)
10. Prenuptial/postnuptial agreement (if any — copy needed)
11. Domestic violence history (if any — safety planning needed)
12. Prior legal actions (prior divorce, custody orders, protective orders)
13. Goals (what client wants — custody, property, support, timeline)
14. Concerns (what client fears — hiding assets, parental alienation, etc.)
Format: Numbered intake with safety flags.
Include: If domestic violence indicated — provide safety resources and confidential communication plan.

2. Financial Affidavit Preparation Guide

Role: Family law attorney preparing a financial disclosure affidavit.
State: [jurisdiction], required form: [state-specific form name]
Task: Create a financial affidavit preparation guide.
Monthly income:
1. Gross wages (base salary, overtime, commissions, bonuses, tips)
2. Self-employment income (net — gross minus business expenses)
3. Rental income (net of expenses)
4. Investment income (dividends, interest, capital gains)
5. Retirement/pension income
6. Social Security, disability, unemployment
7. Other recurring income (alimony from prior marriage, etc.)
Monthly expenses:
8. Housing (rent/mortgage, property tax, insurance, HOA, utilities, maintenance)
9. Food and household (groceries, dining out, cleaning supplies)
10. Transportation (car payment, gas, insurance, maintenance, public transit)
11. Health (insurance premiums, out-of-pocket medical, dental, prescriptions)
12. Childcare (daycare, after-school, summer care)
13. Children's expenses (school, activities, clothing, medical, education savings)
14. Personal (clothing, grooming, gym, entertainment, subscriptions)
15. Debt payments (credit cards, student loans, personal loans — minimum payments)
16. Miscellaneous (gifts, charitable, professional dues)
Assets and liabilities summary:
17. All bank accounts (name, account number placeholder, balance)
18. Retirement accounts (type, institution, balance, loans)
19. Vehicles (make, model, year, value, loan balance)
20. All debts (creditor, balance, monthly payment)
Format: Affidavit preparation checklist with documentation requirements.
Include: Warning — intentional misrepresentation is perjury. All figures must be verifiable.

3. Property Division Proposal

Role: Family law attorney drafting a property division proposal.
State: [equitable distribution / community property], parties: [names]
Marital assets: [List with values — real estate, retirement, investments, vehicles, personal property, business interests]
Marital debts: [List with balances — mortgage, car loans, credit cards, student loans]
Task: Draft a property division proposal.
For each asset/debt:
1. Classification (marital, separate, or commingled)
2. Current value (and how determined — appraisal, KBB, statement)
3. Proposed division (who gets what — with percentage split)
4. Tax basis considerations (retirement accounts — pre-tax vs. Roth, capital gains)
5. Transfer mechanism (how to legally transfer each asset — QDRO for retirement, deed for real estate, title for vehicles)
6. Debt allocation (who pays which debt — and indemnification if other spouse defaults)
7. Equalization payment (if division isn't 50/50 — cash payment to equalize)
Special handling:
8. Marital home (buyout, sale, or continued co-ownership — with timeline)
9. Business interests (valuation, buyout, or continued co-ownership — with operating agreement)
10. Retirement accounts (QDRO requirements, tax-deferred transfer, early withdrawal penalties)
Format: Division proposal spreadsheet with asset/debt allocation.
Include: Net worth comparison for each spouse after division (ensure fairness).

Custody & Parenting

4. Parenting Plan Draft

Role: Family law attorney drafting a parenting plan.
Children: [names, ages], parents: [names], state: [jurisdiction]
Task: Draft a comprehensive parenting plan.
Sections:
1. Legal custody (decision-making authority — joint or sole — for education, healthcare, religion, extracurricular)
2. Physical custody (primary residence designation if applicable)
3. Residential schedule:
   - School year schedule (day-by-day breakdown)
   - Summer schedule (weeks with each parent, vacation block)
   - Holiday schedule (alternating years for major holidays)
   - Birthday schedule (each parent's birthday, children's birthdays)
   - Special days (Mother's Day, Father's Day)
4. Transition arrangements (pickup/dropoff location, times, transportation responsibility)
5. Communication:
   - Between parents (method — app, email; frequency; tone expectations)
   - Parent-child communication when with other parent (video calls, phone, reasonable access)
6. Decision-making protocol:
   - Day-to-day decisions (parent with child decides)
   - Major decisions (mutual — with tiebreaker process or mediation)
   - Emergency decisions (notify other parent within X hours)
7. Child support (per state guidelines — amount, payment method, modifications)
8. Tax dependencies (who claims children — alternating or fixed)
9. Relocation (notice requirements if parent moves — 60-90 days, distance threshold)
10. Dispute resolution (mediation before court, parenting coordinator)
11. Review and modification (when plan is revisited — annual review, when child enters school)
12. Grandparent/extended family access (if applicable)
Format: Complete parenting plan ready for court submission.
Include: Age-appropriate language section — how to explain schedule to children.

5. Child Support Calculation Worksheet

Role: Family law attorney calculating child support.
State: [jurisdiction], calculation method: [income shares / percentage of income / flat percentage]
Input:
- Parent A gross monthly income: [amount]
- Parent B gross monthly income: [amount]
- Number of children: [count]
- Parenting time split: [X% / Y%]
- Childcare costs: [monthly amount, who pays]
- Health insurance: [monthly premium for children, who pays]
- Other child support obligations: [if either parent has other children]
Task: Calculate guideline child support.
Steps:
1. Determine each parent's gross monthly income (per state definition — pre-tax, includes overtime?)
2. Apply adjustments (pre-existing child support, other biological children deduction)
3. Calculate combined net income (per state formula)
4. Determine basic support obligation (per state schedule/guidelines)
5. Allocate support between parents based on income share
6. Apply parenting time adjustment (if applicable — many states reduce for >X% time with non-custodial parent)
7. Add childcare share
8. Add healthcare insurance share
9. Add extraordinary medical/dental (if recurring — orthodont, therapy, etc.)
10. Add extraordinary educational (if private school agreed or ordered)
11. Final support obligation (who pays whom, how much)
Format: Support calculation worksheet with every step shown.
Include: State-specific form reference and variance factors (courts may deviate with justification).

Domestic Violence & Emergency Relief

6. Protective Order Application Draft

Role: Family law attorney preparing a protective order application.
Jurisdiction: [state], petitioner: [name], respondent: [name]
Task: Draft a petition for order of protection.
Include:
1. Parties (petitioner, respondent — names, relationship, addresses)
2. Relationship history (marriage, dating, cohabitation, children in common)
3. History of abuse (chronological — dates, descriptions, witnesses, police reports)
4. Most recent incident (detailed description — what happened, when, injuries, weapons, threats)
5. Children involved (any children who witnessed or were harmed)
6. Relief requested:
   - No contact order (stay away from home, work, school, children's school)
   - Exclusive possession of residence (kick respondent out if shared home)
   - Temporary custody (petitioner gets custody during order)
   - Child support (if applicable)
   - Possession of vehicles, keys, personal items
   - Firearms surrender (if respondent owns firearms)
   - Counseling requirement (if appropriate)
7. Imminent danger statement (why order needed immediately — ex parte if applicable)
8. Duration requested (temporary vs. extended — per state law)
Format: Court-ready petition for protective order.
Include: Ex parte process — can judge issue temporary order without respondent present?
Note: Safety planning — provide domestic violence hotline (1-800-799-7233) and safety planning resources.

7. Safety Planning Memo

Role: Family law attorney creating a safety plan for a client at risk.
Client: [name], risk factors: [list — recent escalation, access to weapons, threats, stalking]
Task: Create a confidential safety planning memo.
Safety measures:
1. Physical safety:
   - Change locks, add security system
   - Safe location (friend, family, shelter — not known to abuser)
   - Vary daily routes and schedules
   - Inform neighbors and workplace security
2. Digital safety:
   - Check devices for spyware/tracking apps
   - Use burner phone if current phone is monitored
   - Change all passwords (email, bank, social media)
   - Disable location sharing on phone
   - Use private browsing for legal research
3. Financial safety:
   - Open separate bank account (at different bank — not branch of joint bank)
   - Gather important documents (passport, SSN, birth certificate, insurance cards, financial records) — store copies with trusted person
   - Emergency cash reserve
4. Children's safety:
   - Inform school/daycare of pickup restrictions
   - Give photo of abuser to school
   - Teach children emergency contacts and 911
5. Evidence preservation:
   - Photograph injuries (with timestamps)
   - Save threatening messages (screenshots, backup)
   - Keep journal of incidents
   - Medical records of injuries
6. Emergency contacts:
   - Domestic violence hotline: 1-800-799-7233
   - Local shelter: [number]
   - Police non-emergency: [number]
   - Attorney: [number]
Format: Safety planning memo (privileged and confidential).
Tone: Empathetic, clear, practical — not alarmist.
Include: Emphasis that leaving is the most dangerous time — extra caution needed.

Settlement & Court Filings

8. Settlement Agreement Draft

Role: Family law attorney drafting a marital settlement agreement.
Parties: [names], state: [jurisdiction], agreement date: [date]
Task: Draft a comprehensive marital settlement agreement.
Articles:
1. Recitals (marriage date, separation date, children, intent to resolve all issues)
2. Jurisdiction and definitions
3. Property division:
   - Real estate (each property — who gets, who pays, transfer timeline)
   - Personal property (each significant item — who gets)
   - Bank accounts (division — account by account)
   - Retirement accounts (division — QDRO requirements, percentages)
   - Business interests (buyout, sale, or continued ownership)
   - Vehicles (who gets each, who pays loan)
4. Debt allocation (each debt — who pays, indemnification)
5. Spousal support/alimony:
   - Amount and duration (if applicable)
   - Termination events (remarriage, cohabitation, death)
   - Modification provisions
   - Tax treatment (alimony is no longer deductible/income per TCJA for post-2018 divorces)
6. Child custody and parenting (reference parenting plan as exhibit)
7. Child support (amount, payment method, duration, modification trigger)
8. Health insurance (who provides for children, uninsured medical allocation)
9. Tax matters (filing status for current year, dependency exemptions, division of refunds/liabilities)
10. Attorney fees (who pays, allocation if applicable)
11. Future disputes (mediation before litigation)
12. Full disclosure waiver (both parties have disclosed all assets and debts)
13. Merger/integration (does agreement merge into divorce decree or survive independently?)
14. Miscellaneous (governing law, amendment, severability, entire agreement)
Format: Complete marital settlement agreement ready for both parties' review.
Include: Notary acknowledgments for both parties.

9. Divorce Complaint/Petition Draft

Role: Family law attorney drafting a divorce petition.
State: [jurisdiction], grounds: [no-fault / fault — if applicable], petitioner: [name]
Task: Draft a divorce complaint/petition.
Structure:
1. Caption (court, parties, case number placeholder)
2. Jurisdiction and venue (residency requirements met — how long in state/county)
3. Parties (identification — names, addresses, ages)
4. Marriage details (date, place, separation date)
5. Grounds for divorce (irreconcilable differences / irretrievable breakdown / fault grounds if applicable)
6. Children (names, ages, current custody arrangement, proposed arrangement)
7. Property (summary of marital and separate property — general description)
8. Debts (summary — general description)
9. Requests for relief:
   - Dissolution of marriage
   - Custody and parenting plan
   - Child support
   - Spousal support (if requested)
   - Property division
   - Debt allocation
   - Attorney fees (if requested)
   - Restraints (temporary orders needed — property, custody)
10. Verification (petitioner's sworn statement)
Format: Court-ready petition ready for filing.
Include: Temporary orders request template (if needed at filing).

Special Issues

10. Relocation Motion Draft

Role: Family law attorney drafting a relocation motion.
Custodial parent: [name], proposed relocation: [city/state], reason: [job/family/education]
Current custody: [summary of existing order]
Task: Draft a motion for relocation.
Legal analysis framework (most states use a variation):
1. Reason for relocation (legitimate — not to interfere with other parent's access)
2. Impact on child (educational, emotional, developmental — is move beneficial?)
3. Impact on non-relocating parent's relationship (how will distance affect parenting time?)
4. Revised parenting plan (extended holidays, summer, transportation cost allocation)
5. Feasibility of maintaining relationship (travel logistics, communication plan)
6. Child's preference (if age-appropriate — varies by state)
7. Counter-proposal consideration (can non-relocating parent move instead?)
Motion includes:
8. Procedural background (current order, custody arrangement)
9. Factual basis for relocation (job offer, family support, better schools, cost of living)
10. Proposed modified parenting plan
11. Transportation cost proposal (who pays for increased travel)
Format: Relocation motion with proposed modified parenting plan attached.
Include: Notice requirements — some states require 60-90 days written notice before moving.

11. Modification Petition Draft

Role: Family law attorney drafting a modification petition.
Order being modified: [custody / support / alimony / visitation], original date: [date]
Change in circumstances: [description — job loss, relocation, child needs change, remarriage]
Task: Draft a petition for modification.
Elements:
1. Procedural history (original order date, court, case number, terms)
2. Substantial change in circumstances (specific facts — must be material and continuing)
3. Impact on child (or on payor/recipient for support modification)
4. Proposed modification (new terms)
5. Best interests of the child (for custody modifications — the standard)
6. Changed circumstances not contemplated by original order (if required by state law)
7. Timing requirements (some states require waiting period before modification — e.g., 2 years for custody)
Format: Modification petition ready for filing.
Include: Temporary modification request (if urgent — pending hearing).
Note: Some states require mediation before custody modification can be filed — verify local rules.

12. Collaborative Divorce Participation Agreement

Role: Family law attorney preparing a collaborative divorce agreement.
Parties: [names], attorneys: [names], date: [date]
Task: Draft a collaborative process participation agreement.
Provisions:
1. Purpose (resolve divorce through negotiation, not litigation)
2. Participation requirements:
   - Full, voluntary disclosure of all assets, debts, and income
   - Good faith negotiation
   - Respect for all parties and professionals
   - No court filings (except final divorce decree by consent)
3. Professional team:
   - Attorneys for each party (must withdraw if process breaks down — disqualification clause)
   - Financial neutral (if applicable — CPA or financial planner)
   - Mental health neutral/coach (if applicable)
   - Child specialist (if applicable)
4. Process:
   - Joint meetings schedule
   - Information gathering protocol
   - Negotiation methodology (interest-based)
   - Expert retention (jointly retained, shared cost)
5. Withdrawal/disqualification:
   - If either party files for litigation, both attorneys must withdraw
   - Party must retain new litigation counsel (starts from scratch)
   - Collaborative communications are not admissible in court
6. Confidentiality (all discussions are confidential — settlement negotiations)
7. Finalization (agreement submitted to court as uncontested divorce)
Format: Collaborative law participation agreement.
Include: Explanation of the "disqualification clause" — the cornerstone of collaborative law that incentivizes good faith.

Best Practices for Family Law AI Prompts

1. Never input children's names or identifying details — use initials or placeholders

2. Always specify the state — family law is almost entirely state-specific. Grounds, property division, custody standards, and support calculations vary

3. Include the date of marriage and separation — these dates determine what's marital vs. separate property

4. Flag domestic violence immediately — safety planning supersedes legal strategy. Never proceed with routine legal work if safety is at risk

5. Verify state-specific child support calculations — every state has a different calculation method and schedule. Always verify the current state guidelines and calculator

For more legal resources, see our AI prompts for estate planning attorneys and our ChatGPT prompts for bankruptcy attorneys.