
What Does the “Best Interests of the Child” Mean?
The law protects the interests of children in many ways, and one way is by setting standards for child custody arrangements. The standard in California is that the custody arrangement must be in the best interests of the child. This standard applies when: Parents agree to custody arrangements, and the court reviews the proposal to ensure it is in the best interests of the child.Parents cannot agree, so the court must issue a custody order for the parents.One or both parents wants to modify child custody. What does the court look for when ensuring custody is in the child’s best interests? Many factors can be weighed, depending on the circumstances. Some factors include: The child’s needs, including special needsEach parent's ability to meet the needs of the childWhere each parent…