Courts have a serious responsibility when deciding child custody matters to ensure the final decision is what is best for the child and will provide him or her with a stable home.
According to the State of Connecticut Judicial Branch, the judge in your case will consider a range of factors about your family to make a determination about custody arrangements.
Wants and needs
The court will consider your child’s thoughts on custody arrangements. It will also consider yours. The court will try to understand more about your child’s needs and how you and the other parent meet those needs. It also will make sure that any cultural needs receive consideration.
Relationships
A judge will also look at the relationships between your child and you and the other parent, including how active each of you is in your child’s life. He or she will consider other significant relationships, such as those with siblings and grandparents. The court likes to see parents who want to nature their children’s bonds with other family members, including the other parent.
Behaviors
The court assesses your behavior prior to and during the divorce and custody hearings, which might include looking for manipulative behavior, situations where you tried to involve your child in arguments with the other parent and situations involving abuse or neglect.
The court will often look positively on a parent who leaves the family home during the divorce to help prevent further disruption to the child’s life. It also will give weight to the completion of a parenting education program.
Stability
The court will look at the child’s ability to adapt to change in residences. It will also want to gather information about the current living situation and how long your child has had a stable living environment.
Health
Finally, the court will also investigate the mental and physical health of everyone involved.
