The court’s goal when creating a child custody arrangement is typically to maintain a healthy relationship between children and both of their parents. This may be done by determining a child’s best interests. In short, the “best interests of a child” can include factors that provide them with happiness, safety and a healthy upbringing. However, the best interests of a child can look different in every case depending on a child’s needs and a parent’s ability to provide.
Parents can influence a child custody hearing by showing evidence that they have the best interests of their child in mind. Several forms of evidence can help parents tilt a custody decision in their favor. Here is what you should know:
Evidence to bring to a child custody hearing
The courts try to take an objective view when considering evidence in a child custody case. Some relevant factors that can affect a child custody case may include:
- The relationship between parents, including which parent is more likely to facilitate a healthy relationship between the child and the other parent if they have custody
- A parent’s ability to provide a stable household, including providing for a child’s education and basic needs or just maintaining a constant income and residence
- A parent’s history of abuse, neglect, criminal activity or drug use that may endanger or impact a child’s health or development
- The relationship and proximity between children and their parents and extended family and how that might benefit the child by extension
- The current mental and physical history of a parent or those in their household if that may have an impact on the child or affect a parent’s ability to care for that child
Legal guidance can help parents gather any other relevant evidence that could be used in a child custody case.
