How Does a Judge Analyze the Best Interests of the Child in California Custody Cases?
Legally, the judge is mandated to decide in favor of what is in the best interests of the child. This means that the judge will look into what the child needs and which parent can best meet those needs, as opposed to the rights of the parents over their children.
Factors
Factors that can be considered include the parent’s capacity to provide for the child’s material needs, the child’s safety, and who is best suited to provide the child with emotional support, supervision, and guidance.
Some factors that may lead a judge to decide against a parent include a history of abuse, alcohol, drugs, the inability to provide for the child’s material needs, and the inability to provide supervision, emotional support, and daily care for the child.
The judge may also listen to the child’s testimony on which parent he desires to live with, although this does not necessarily mean that the child’s preference will be granted. At the end of the day, what will be the determining factor is the judge’s determination of what is in the child’s best interests.
Best Interests of the Child as a Legal Concept
Family law courts in California adhere to the “best interests of the child” standard. This is a determinative standard in cases involving child custody, guardianship, and visitation.
There is no standard definition of what constitutes “best interests.” As far as the determination goes, it is both subjective and discretionary, and the judge is tasked to consider all relevant factors in order to determine the best custodial arrangements for each specific child.
How Does a Judge Determine the Best Interests of the Child?
The primary factors that a judge will examine in determining what is in the child’s best interests include the child’s health, safety, and welfare. These are general concepts that may cover such things as the child’s physical and emotional health, an environment that promotes the child’s safety, continuity, and stability; and the history of the relationship between the child and the parent.
The judge may also consider the possible benefits that a child will derive from a custodial arrangement where the child has a stable and continuing relationship with both parents, wherein both parents retain active roles in the child’s care and upbringing.
There is no one-plan-fits-all when it comes to child custody and visitation arrangements. Judges have the widest latitude possible in determining what will be in the best interest of each child, depending upon their personal and unique family circumstances.
No Presumption of Preference for One Parent Over Another
Some jurisdictions adhere to a presumption in favor of one parent over the other; for instance, in favor of the mother being the primary custodial parent for very young children. In California, however, this is not the case. Both parents start out with equal rights to custody, and the judge’s determination of who should have primary custody will be based solely upon the best interests of the child.
In certain instances, a judge may also decide that the best interests of the child are that neither parent have custody. Some cases where one or both parents may not be granted custody include a situation where there is domestic abuse, violence, alcohol, or drug abuse.
In such cases, the family court may order that child custody be granted to a guardian rather than one or both parents. This highlights the fact that the overriding standard in child custody and visitation cases is the best interest of the child, not parental rights.