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If you are filing for child custody, the judge may ask you to write a letter of declaration that explains your side of the story – for example, if the other parent contests your custody, or if a representative for your child such as a guardian ad litem has filed a report with the court recommending a different custody arrangement than the one you requested. If someone close to you is in the midst of child custody proceedings, he or she also might ask you to write a character reference letter to submit to the court. These letters have a few formal requirements, but generally can be drafted without the assistance of an attorney.