Child Custody Series - The Best Interests of the Child Standard
Courts apportion custody of minor children between divorcing parents based on one standard: the “Best Interests of the Child.” The most difficult aspect of divorce is ascertaining the best interests of the minor child(ren) involved; understanding and accepting that this might diverge from the best interests of parents, or might be inextricably linked to the best interests of parents. A custody award is not a prize to one winning parent, nor is its denial in whole or in part a punishment to one losing parent. Rather, a custody arrangement it a