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2018 SESSION

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HB 1351 Joint legal, joint physical, or sole child custody; court shall consider and may award.

Introduced by: Glenn R. Davis | all patrons    ...    notes | add to my profiles | history

SUMMARY AS PASSED:

Joint legal or physical child custody. Provides that the court shall consider and may award joint legal, joint physical, or sole custody of a child and there shall be no presumption in favor of any such form of custody.

SUMMARY AS PASSED HOUSE:

Joint legal or physical child custody. Provides that, when determining custody, the court's primary consideration of the best interests of the child shall include whether joint legal or joint physical custody is appropriate.

SUMMARY AS INTRODUCED:

Joint legal or physical child custody; custody and visitation decisions; communication to parties required in writing. Provides that, when determining custody or visitation arrangements, the court shall consider whether joint legal or joint physical custody is appropriate in terms of what is in the best interests of a child. The bill further provides that the consideration of "joint physical custody" means the court shall consider custody and visitation arrangements that are reasonably constructed to maximize a child's time with each parent to the greatest extent possible in the child's best interests. The bill further requires judges to communicate the basis of a custody or visitation decision to the parties in writing. Current law allows such a decision to be communicated either orally or in writing.