The days before a temporary orders hearing or trial can be extremely tense. For one thing, likely, you’ve never been inside of a courtroom before, and your unfamiliarity will likely cause you to feel apprehensive. Secondly, this is a family law case we’re talking about here. In Court Testimony: How what you say can make a difference in how the judge views your case. Whether it is a divorce or a child custody case, your children, finances, and possibly both are at stake.
Whether or Not You Feel Good About Going to Court
The fact remains is that if you are unlikely to settle your case either for temporary or final orders, the result will be that you and the opposing party will have to attend a trial to have your case decided by a judge.
One of the best pieces of advice that I was told as a young attorney was always to make sure you have prepared your client to the best of your ability before any courtroom appearance. Sometimes lawyers get so caught up in their responsibilities associated with representing you, the client, that we can forget that you are more apprehensive than anyone else.
Taking a step back and helping you is what an attorney does.
It’s the oath that we swore to when we were licensed as attorneys- to put your interests ahead of our own.
With that said, I would like to share some advice on testifying in court and how it can be impactful- not only on the case itself but also on how your judge will view you. Your credibility as a witness is just as important as the content of what you say while under oath. With that fact in mind, we begin our discussion with some basics on courtroom testimony.
Above All Else, Always Tell the Truth.
Always, always, always tell the truth when you are responding to a question in court. I could stop the blog right here, and you would have learned the most important lesson of all when it comes to in-court testimony. From my experience, clients believe that if they do not “perform” well while on the witness stand, their case will indeed be lost, and their lives will never recover. I’m here to tell you that is not the case.
For one, your testimony in court is only a part of the evidence that the judge will have to consider when rendering a decision. The opposing party, any other witnesses, and any documentary evidence entered into the record will also be critically important. Keeping this in mind, there is no need for you to feel like you need to provide confident answers so that your case may benefit.
Judges listen to people talk all day
They are excellent judges of whether the words you speak are truthful. Even if an answer you are about to provide will hurt your case, it does not pay to be untruthful. If the judge sees that you are providing solutions even under challenging circumstances, they are likely to take your responses and your case as a whole seriously.
Stretching the truth is something that you should stay away from as well. Just because an answer sounds good coming off your lips doesn’t mean that you should give that response.
Understand the Question Fully Before Giving an Answer
Before a hearing, I will always take my client aside and talk to them about testifying. After I go over the importance of telling the truth, I will tell the client to make 100% sure that you understand the question being asked of you before opening your mouth to speak.
Take a moment to let the question sink in and consider whether or not you understand the question being asked. If you do, think whether or not you know the answer to that question; if you do, then provide as concise and clear a response as you can muster.
If you do not understand a question
Whether your attorney or the opposing attorney asks it, you should ask them to rephrase the question. Lawyers are human beings and are not perfect (ask the spouse of any attorney about that last part).
We ask wrong questions all the time. Ones that sound good in our heads but come off our lips making little to no sense. If you are on the witness stand, a lawyer’s question doesn’t make you feel asked to rephrase the question. We will take no offense to be asked to do so.
The last thing you want to do
Is answer a question you misunderstood where you provide information that can be potentially harmful to your case. Some lawyers will ask questions in ways that could be interpreted multiple ways to see if you answer them.
Rather than taking a moment to make sure you understand the question, you run the risk of giving a response that was not only unnecessary but damaging to your case. It is always better to collect yourself before testifying and ask for the question to be asked again if you do not understand it.
Final Thoughts
While you may never have to testify in front of a judge in your family law case, knowing how to do so is not only important in terms of strengthening your case but also in providing you with peace of mind leading up to your court date.
If you have any questions about what you read in today’s blog post, please do not hesitate to contact the Law Office of Bryan Fagan, PLLC. One of our licensed family law attorneys would be honored to speak with you regarding your case in a free-of-charge consultation.
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Other Articles you may be interested in:
- In Court Testimony: Advice for your Trial or Temporary Orders Hearing, Part Two
- Tips on giving in-court testimony in your divorce or child custody case
- Tips on giving in-court testimony in your divorce or child custody case, Part Three
- Tips on giving in-court testimony in your divorce or child custody case, Part Two
- Getting Ready for a Hearing On Temporary Custody Orders
- Child Custody Geographic Restrictions in Texas
- Geographic Restrictions in Child Visitation Orders in Texas
- The Dirty Trick of Moving Out of State with the Kids
- Can a Parent remove My Child from the state of Texas or from the County or Country where I am living?
- Children’s Passports and International Travel after Texas Divorce
Frequently Asked Questions
When testifying in court, you typically begin with an oath or affirmation to tell the truth. After that, you answer the questions asked by the attorneys or the judge, sticking to the facts and your personal knowledge.
An example of testimony evidence is a witness recounting their observation of an event, such as describing a car accident they witnessed. This type of evidence is verbal and presented in court.
A witness testimony could be a person describing what they saw during a burglary. They might detail the actions of the burglar, their appearance, and the time of the event.
Testimony is a form of evidence, specifically verbal statements made by witnesses under oath. Evidence can be broader, including physical items, documents, and other materials in addition to testimony.
Bryan Fagan, a native of Atascocita, Texas, is a dedicated family law attorney inspired by John Grisham’s “The Pelican Brief.” He is the first lawyer in his family, which includes two adopted brothers. Bryan’s commitment to family is personal and professional; he cared for his grandmother with Alzheimer’s while completing his degree and attended the South Texas College of Law at night.
Married with three children, Bryan’s personal experiences enrich his understanding of family dynamics, which is central to his legal practice. He specializes in family law, offering innovative and efficient legal services. A certified member of the College of the State Bar of Texas, Bryan is part of an elite group of legal professionals committed to ongoing education and high-level expertise.
His legal practice covers divorce, custody disputes, property disputes, adoption, paternity, and mediation. Bryan is also experienced in drafting marital property agreements. He leads a team dedicated to complex family law cases and protecting families from false CPS allegations.
Based in Houston, Bryan is active in the Houston Family Law Sector of the Houston Bar Association and various family law groups in Texas. His deep understanding of family values and his professional dedication make him a compassionate advocate for families navigating Texas family law.
