Best Interests

Best interests or best interests of the child is the doctrine used by most courts to determine a wide range of issues relating to the well-being of children. The most important of these issues concern questions that arise upon the divorce or separation of the children's parents. Here are some examples:

  • With whom will the children live?
  • How much contact (previously termed "access" or, in some jurisdictions, "visitation") will the parents, legal guardian, or other parties be allowed (or required) to have?
  • To whom and by whom will child support be paid and in what amount?

Read more about Best Interests:  History, Assessing The Best Interests of The Child, Criticism of The Best Interests Standard

Famous quotes containing the word interests:

    ... there is nothing more irritating to a feminist than the average “Woman’s Page” of a newspaper, with its out-dated assumption that all women have a common trade interest in the household arts, and a common leisure interest in clothes and the doings of “high society.” Women’s interests to-day are as wide as the world.
    Crystal Eastman (1881–1928)