How is child custody determined?

May6

by Diane Enriquez

Courts base child custody decisions on the best interests of the child, considering factors like the child’s health, safety, and emotional needs, as well as the parents’ ability to care for them.

img:is([sizes="auto" i]){contain-intrinsic-size:3000px 1500px;}.wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em;}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none;}:where(.is-layout-flex){gap:.5em;}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap:.5em;}body .is-layout-flex{display:flex;}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap:wrap;align-items:center;}.is-layout-flex > :is(*,div){margin:0;}body .is-layout-grid{display:grid;}.is-layout-grid > :is(*,div){margin:0;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap:2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap:2em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap:1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap:1.25em;}.has-black-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color:var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background:var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size:var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap:1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap:1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap:2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap:2em;}:root :where(.wp-block-pullquote){font-size:1.5em;line-height:1.6;}.a-stats{--akismet-color-mid-green:#357b49;--akismet-color-white:#fff;--akismet-color-light-grey:#f6f7f7;max-width:350px;width:auto;}.a-stats *{all:unset;box-sizing:border-box;}.a-stats strong{font-weight:600;}.a-stats a.a-stats__link,.a-stats a.a-stats__link:visited,.a-stats a.a-stats__link:active{background:var(--akismet-color-mid-green);border:none;box-shadow:none;border-radius:8px;color:var(--akismet-color-white);cursor:pointer;display:block;font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,"Segoe UI","Roboto","Oxygen-Sans","Ubuntu","Cantarell","Helvetica Neue",sans-serif;font-weight:500;padding:12px;text-align:center;text-decoration:none;transition:all .2s ease;}.widget .a-stats a.a-stats__link:focus{background:var(--akismet-color-mid-green);color:var(--akismet-color-white);text-decoration:none;}.a-stats a.a-stats__link:hover{filter:brightness(110%);box-shadow:0 4px 12px rgba(0,0,0,.06),0 0 2px rgba(0,0,0,.16);}.a-stats .count{color:var(--akismet-color-white);display:block;font-size:1.5em;line-height:1.4;padding:0 13px;white-space:nowrap;}.recentcomments a{display:inline !important;padding:0 !important;margin:0 !important;}.saboxplugin-wrap{-webkit-box-sizing:border-box;-moz-box-sizing:border-box;-ms-box-sizing:border-box;box-sizing:border-box;border:1px solid #eee;width:100%;clear:both;display:block;overflow:hidden;word-wrap:break-word;position:relative;}.saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-gravatar{float:left;padding:0 20px 20px 20px;}.saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-gravatar img{max-width:100px;height:auto;border-radius:0;}.saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-authorname{font-size:18px;line-height:1;margin:20px 0 0 20px;display:block;}.saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-authorname a{text-decoration:none;}.saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-authorname a:focus{outline:0;}.saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-desc{display:block;margin:5px 20px;}.saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-desc a{text-decoration:underline;}.saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-desc p{margin:5px 0 12px;}.saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-web{margin:0 20px 15px;text-align:left;}.saboxplugin-wrap .sab-web-position{text-align:right;}.saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-web a{color:#ccc;text-decoration:none;}.saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-socials{position:relative;display:block;background:#fcfcfc;padding:5px;border-top:1px solid #eee;}.saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-socials a svg{width:20px;height:20px;}.saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-socials a svg .st2{fill:#fff;transform-origin:center center;}.saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-socials a svg .st1{fill:rgba(0,0,0,.3);}.saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-socials a:hover{opacity:.8;-webkit-transition:opacity .4s;-moz-transition:opacity .4s;-o-transition:opacity .4s;transition:opacity .4s;box-shadow:none !important;-webkit-box-shadow:none !important;}.saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-socials .saboxplugin-icon-color{box-shadow:none;padding:0;border:0;-webkit-transition:opacity .4s;-moz-transition:opacity .4s;-o-transition:opacity .4s;transition:opacity .4s;display:inline-block;color:#fff;font-size:0;text-decoration:inherit;margin:5px;-webkit-border-radius:0;-moz-border-radius:0;-ms-border-radius:0;-o-border-radius:0;border-radius:0;overflow:hidden;}.saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-socials .saboxplugin-icon-grey{text-decoration:inherit;box-shadow:none;position:relative;display:-moz-inline-stack;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle;zoom:1;margin:10px 5px;color:#444;fill:#444;}.ie7 .clearfix{zoom:1;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-twitch{border-color:#38245c;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-addthis{border-color:#e91c00;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-behance{border-color:#003eb0;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-delicious{border-color:#06c;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-deviantart{border-color:#036824;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-digg{border-color:#00327c;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-dribbble{border-color:#ba1655;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-facebook{border-color:#1e2e4f;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-flickr{border-color:#003576;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-github{border-color:#264874;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-google{border-color:#0b51c5;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-googleplus{border-color:#96271a;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-html5{border-color:#902e13;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-instagram{border-color:#1630aa;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-linkedin{border-color:#00344f;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-pinterest{border-color:#5b040e;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-reddit{border-color:#992900;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-rss{border-color:#a43b0a;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-sharethis{border-color:#5d8420;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-skype{border-color:#00658a;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-soundcloud{border-color:#995200;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-spotify{border-color:#0f612c;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-stackoverflow{border-color:#a95009;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-steam{border-color:#006388;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-user_email{border-color:#b84e05;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-stumbleUpon{border-color:#9b280e;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-tumblr{border-color:#10151b;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-twitter{border-color:#0967a0;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-vimeo{border-color:#0d7091;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-windows{border-color:#003f71;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-whatsapp{border-color:#003f71;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-wordpress{border-color:#0f3647;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-yahoo{border-color:#14002d;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-youtube{border-color:#900;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-xing{border-color:#000202;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-mixcloud{border-color:#2475a0;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-vk{border-color:#243549;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-medium{border-color:#00452c;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-quora{border-color:#420e00;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-meetup{border-color:#9b181c;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-goodreads{border-color:#000;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-snapchat{border-color:#999700;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-500px{border-color:#00557f;}.saboxplugin-socials.sabox-colored .saboxplugin-icon-color .sab-mastodont{border-color:#185886;}.sabox-plus-item{margin-bottom:20px;}body .saboxplugin-authorname a,body .saboxplugin-authorname a:hover{box-shadow:none;-webkit-box-shadow:none;}a.sab-profile-edit{font-size:16px !important;line-height:1 !important;}.sab-edit-settings a,a.sab-profile-edit{color:#0073aa !important;box-shadow:none !important;-webkit-box-shadow:none !important;}.sab-edit-settings{margin-right:15px;position:absolute;right:0;z-index:2;bottom:10px;line-height:20px;}.sab-edit-settings i{margin-left:5px;}.saboxplugin-socials{line-height:1 !important;}.rtl .saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-gravatar{float:right;}.rtl .saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-authorname{display:flex;align-items:center;}.rtl .saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-authorname .sab-profile-edit{margin-right:10px;}.rtl .sab-edit-settings{right:auto;left:0;}img.sab-custom-avatar{max-width:75px;}.saboxplugin-wrap{margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;padding:0px 0px;}.saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-authorname{font-size:18px;line-height:25px;}.saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-desc p,.saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-desc{font-size:14px !important;line-height:21px !important;}.saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-web{font-size:14px;}.saboxplugin-wrap .saboxplugin-socials a svg{width:18px;height:18px;}#case-results .result{min-height:65px;}.hero-title{font-family:"Roboto Condensed",sans-serif;color:#d96b0b;}header #hero{padding-top:35px;padding-bottom:35px;}@media screen and (min-width: 992px){.home header #hero .col-sm-5 .right{position:static !important;}.home header #hero [class*=col-]{height:initial !important;}.home header #hero{height:initial !important;}.home header #hero .container .row{display:flex;}}