How do courts determine best interest of the child?

How do courts determine best interest of the child?

Each parent’s ability (and of any other relevant person) to look after the child’s needs. Characteristics of a child or parent that the court thinks are important, including their maturity, sex, lifestyle and background. Each parent’s attitude to the child and their parental responsibilities.

Can a mother stop a father seeing their child?

A question asked by many parents is can a mother stop a father from seeing child. A father has the same rights as a mother and contact cannot be legally stopped unless there are concerns that further contact could affect the welfare of a child.

Is 50/50 custody the same as joint custody?

Joint physical custody is not necessarily 50/50. Parents living apart need to decide how to divide children’s time between two households (physical custody), and they also need to decide how they will make big and small childrearing decisions (legal custody).

What rights does a father have with joint custody?

4. Share in major life decisions. If you have equal shared legal custody of your children, you have the right to participate in decisions about things like education, religion and medical care.

Does joint legal custody mean no child support?

Yes. Joint custody doesn’t negate a child support obligation. Even if both parents share custody on an equal basis, one parent will inevitably owe some amount in child support. So even if the child spends equal time with each parent, the parent with the higher income will owe child support.