One of the most disliked aspects of family law litigation is cross-examination. People have a universal aversion to it, from litigators to parents to experts. In family law cases, there are many types of individuals a lawyer will need to cross-examine. Often, the lawyer will cross-examine at least one of the parents, an evaluator or Guardian ad Litem, mental health professions for either parent or the minor child, or other various experts, professionals, or friends and family. Effective cross-examination is a critical tool for litigators to help paint a picture for the factfinder (Judge) of what is in the best interest of the children, just as understanding effective cross-examination is also a critical tool for any professional in a family law case so they are prepared to answer questions in a way that is useful to the factfinder in making decisions for families. The author reflects on the purpose of cross-examination and offers some key guidelines for lawyers cross-examining witnesses and for those who face cross-examination during testimony.