This Statute Analysis Map highlights states that have a relevant factor for determining a child’s best interest in a custody dispute. For states that do, a list of state-specific statutes and what factors each statute mentions are listed. Factors include (but are not limited to): time spent with each parent, prior involvement of each parent in the child’s life, emotional ties between parents and child, and keeping siblings together. Sourced from the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status Bench Book, Appendix Q3.
Bench Cards, Child welfare, abuse and neglect, Custody, Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS), State Family Laws