Going into a child custody case can be stressful. Each parent wants to protect their relationship with their child and worries that they may not get a fair share of parenting time. Some may even fear that they will be cut out of their child’s life completely. Now, thanks to House Bill 528, which took effect on July 14th of this year, parents can have a bit more peace of mind as they prepare for a child custody case.
The Best Interest Of The Child
According to an article from The Daily Independent, the new law creates the presumption that a child’s best interest is served by joint custody arrangements and equal parenting time in most cases. This new law follows a well-received law that went into effect last year that established the presumption of equal parenting time in temporary child custody situations.
It is important to note that, while this is the presumption and a great starting point, shared parenting time is not guaranteed. The law also outlines 11 factors that could counteract the presumption. Among them is a parent’s history of domestic abuse as well as drug use. In other words, if it is truly in the child’s best interest to have less or no contact with one parent, that is a possibility in certain circumstances.
Ultimately, the goal of every child custody case is to do what is right for the child.