What are the laws for joint custody?

For the jurisdiction where I practice divorce and family law (Utah), the laws the court must consider are found in Utah Code § 30-3-10, 30-3-10.2, and, if the question of joint equal custody is in issue, § 30-3-35.2. The list is long, but worth knowing (frankly, you must know about these factors and be able to argue them in your favor) if you anticipate a fight over child custody:

 

Utah Code Title 30, Husband and Wife, Chapter 3, Divorce, Section 10 (Custody of a child — Custody factors.)

30-3-10. Custody of a child — Custody factors.

(1) If a married couple having one or more minor children are separated, or the married couple’s marriage is declared void or dissolved, the court shall enter, and has continuing jurisdiction to modify, an order of custody and parent-time.

(2) In determining any form of custody and parent-time under Subsection (1), the court shall consider the best interest of the child and may consider among other factors the court finds relevant, the following for each parent:

(a) evidence of domestic violence, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, or emotional abuse, involving the child, the parent, or a household member of the parent;

(b) the parent’s demonstrated understanding of, responsiveness to, and ability to meet the developmental needs of the child, including the child’s:

(i) physical needs;

(ii) emotional needs;

(iii) educational needs;

(iv) medical needs; and

(v) any special needs;

(c) the parent’s capacity and willingness to function as a parent, including:

(i) parenting skills;

(ii) co-parenting skills, including:

(A) ability to appropriately communicate with the other parent;

(B) ability to encourage the sharing of love and affection; and

(C) willingness to allow frequent and continuous contact between the child and the other parent, except that, if the court determines that the parent is acting to protect the child from domestic violence, neglect, or abuse, the parent’s protective actions may be taken into consideration; and

(iii) ability to provide personal care rather than surrogate care;

(d) in accordance with Subsection (10), the past conduct and demonstrated moral character of the parent;

(e) the emotional stability of the parent;

(f) the parent’s inability to function as a parent because of drug abuse, excessive drinking, or other causes;

(g) whether the parent has intentionally exposed the child to pornography or material harmful to minors, as “material” and “harmful to minors” are defined in Section 76-10-1201;

(h) the parent’s reasons for having relinquished custody or parent-time in the past;

(i) duration and depth of desire for custody or parent-time;

(j) the parent’s religious compatibility with the child;

(k) the parent’s financial responsibility;

(l) the child’s interaction and relationship with step-parents, extended family members of other individuals who may significantly affect the child’s best interests;

(m) who has been the primary caretaker of the child;

(n) previous parenting arrangements in which the child has been happy and well-adjusted in the home, school, and community;

(o) the relative benefit of keeping siblings together;

(p) the stated wishes and concerns of the child, taking into consideration the child’s cognitive ability and emotional maturity;

(q) the relative strength of the child’s bond with the parent, meaning the depth, quality, and nature of the relationship between the parent and the child; and

(r) any other factor the court finds relevant.

(3) There is a rebuttable presumption that joint legal custody, as defined in Section 30-3-10.1, is in the best interest of the child, except in cases when there is:

(a) evidence of domestic violence, neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, or emotional abuse involving the child, a parent, or a household member of the parent;

(b) special physical or mental needs of a parent or child, making joint legal custody unreasonable;

(c) physical distance between the residences of the parents, making joint decision making impractical in certain circumstances; or

(d) any other factor the court considers relevant including those listed in this section and Section 30-3-10.2.

(4)

(a) The person who desires joint legal custody shall file a proposed parenting plan in accordance with Sections 30-3-10.8 and 30-3-10.9.

(b) A presumption for joint legal custody may be rebutted by a showing by a preponderance of the evidence that it is not in the best interest of the child.

(5)

(a) A child may not be required by either party to testify unless the trier of fact determines that extenuating circumstances exist that would necessitate the testimony of the child be heard and there is no other reasonable method to present the child’s testimony.

(b)

(i) The court may inquire of the child’s and take into consideration the child’s desires regarding future custody or parent-time schedules, but the expressed desires are not controlling and the court may determine the child’s custody or parent-time otherwise.

(ii) The desires of a child 14 years of age or older shall be given added weight, but is not the single controlling factor.

(c)

(i) If an interview with a child is conducted by the court pursuant to Subsection (5)(b), the interview shall be conducted by the judge in camera.

(ii) The prior consent of the parties may be obtained but is not necessary if the court finds that an interview with a child is the only method to ascertain the child’s desires regarding custody.

(6)

(a) Except as provided in Subsection (6)(b), a court may not discriminate against a parent due to a disability, as defined in Section 57-21-2, in awarding custody or determining whether a substantial change has occurred for the purpose of modifying an award of custody.

(b) The court may not consider the disability of a parent as a factor in awarding custody or modifying an award of custody based on a determination of a substantial change in circumstances, unless the court makes specific findings that:

(i) the disability significantly or substantially inhibits the parent’s ability to provide for the physical and emotional needs of the child at issue; and

(ii) the parent with a disability lacks sufficient human, monetary, or other resources available to supplement the parent’s ability to provide for the physical and emotional needs of the child at issue.

(c) Nothing in this section may be construed to apply to adoption proceedings under Title 78B, Chapter 6, Part 1, Utah Adoption Act.

(7) This section does not establish a preference for either parent solely because of the gender of the parent.

(8) This section establishes neither a preference nor a presumption for or against joint physical custody or sole physical custody, but allows the court and the family the widest discretion to choose a parenting plan that is in the best interest of the child.

(9) When an issue before the court involves custodial responsibility in the event of a deployment of one or both parents who are servicemembers, and the servicemember has not yet been notified of deployment, the court shall resolve the issue based on the standards in Sections 78B-20-306 through 78B-20-309.

(10) In considering the past conduct and demonstrated moral standards of each party under Subsection (2)(d) or any other factor a court finds relevant, the court may not:

(a) consider or treat a parent’s lawful possession or use of cannabis in a medicinal dosage form, a cannabis product in a medicinal dosage form, or a medical cannabis device, in accordance with Title 4, Chapter 41a, Cannabis Production Establishments, Title 26, Chapter 61a, Utah Medical Cannabis Act, or Subsection 58-37-3.7(2) or (3) any differently than the court would consider or treat the lawful possession or use of any prescribed controlled substance; or

(b) discriminate against a parent because of the parent’s status as a:

(i) cannabis production establishment agent, as that term is defined in Section 4-41a-102;

(ii) medical cannabis pharmacy agent, as that term is defined in Section 26-61a-102;

(iii) medical cannabis courier agent, as that term is defined in Section 26-61a-102; or

(iv) medical cannabis cardholder in accordance with Title 26, Chapter 61a, Utah Medical Cannabis Act.

Utah Code Title 30, Husband and Wife, Chapter 3, Divorce, Section 10.2 (Joint custody order — Factors for court determination — Public assistance.)

30-3-10.2. Joint custody order — Factors for court determination — Public assistance.

(1) The court may order joint legal custody or joint physical custody or both if one or both parents have filed a parenting plan in accordance with Section 30-3-10.8 and the court determines that joint legal custody or joint physical custody or both is in the best interest of the child.

(2) In determining whether the best interest of a child will be served by ordering joint legal custody or joint physical custody or both, the court shall consider the custody factors in Section 30-3-10 and the following factors:

(a) whether the physical, psychological, and emotional needs and development of the child will benefit from joint legal custody or joint physical custody or both;

(b) the ability of the parents to give first priority to the welfare of the child and reach shared decisions in the child’s best interest;

(c) co-parenting skills, including:

(i) ability to appropriately communicate with the other parent;

(ii) ability to encourage the sharing of love and affection; and

(iii) willingness to allow frequent and continuous contact between the child and the other parent, except that, if the court determines that the parent is acting to protect the child from domestic violence, neglect, or abuse, the parent’s protective actions may be taken into consideration; and

(d) whether both parents participated in raising the child before the divorce;

(e) the geographical proximity of the homes of the parents;

(f) the preference of the child if the child is of sufficient age and capacity to reason so as to form an intelligent preference as to joint legal custody or joint physical custody or both;

(g) the maturity of the parents and their willingness and ability to protect the child from conflict that may arise between the parents;

(h) the past and present ability of the parents to cooperate with each other and make decisions jointly; and

(i) any other factor the court finds relevant.

(3) The determination of the best interest of the child shall be by a preponderance of the evidence.

(4) The court shall inform both parties that an order for joint physical custody may preclude eligibility for cash assistance provided under Title 35A, Chapter 3, Employment Support Act.

(5) The court may order that when possible the parties attempt to settle future disputes by a dispute resolution method before seeking enforcement or modification of the terms and conditions of the order of joint legal custody or joint physical custody through litigation, except in emergency situations requiring ex parte orders to protect the child.

Utah Code Title 30, Husband and Wife, Chapter 3, Divorce, Section 30-3-35.2. (Equal parent-time schedule).

Section 30–3–35.2 (Equal parent-time schedule)

(1)

(a) A court may order the equal parent-time schedule described in this section if the court determines that:

(i) the equal parent-time schedule is in the child’s best interest;

(ii) each parent has been actively involved in the child’s life; and

(iii) each parent can effectively facilitate the equal parent-time schedule.

(b) To determine whether each parent has been actively involved in the child’s life, the court shall consider:

(i) each parent’s demonstrated responsibility in caring for the child;

(ii) each parent’s involvement in child care;

(iii) each parent’s presence or volunteer efforts in the child’s school and at extracurricular activities;

(iv) each parent’s assistance with the child’s homework;

(v) each parent’s involvement in preparation of meals, bath time, and bedtime for the child;

(vi) each parent’s bond with the child; and

(vii) any other factor the court considers relevant.

(c) To determine whether each parent can effectively facilitate the equal parent-time schedule, the court shall consider:

(i) the geographic distance between the residence of each parent and the distance between each residence and the child’s school;

(ii) each parent’s ability to assist with the child’s after school care;

(iii) the health of the child and each parent, consistent with Subsection 30-3-10(6);

(iv) the flexibility of each parent’s employment or other schedule;

(v) each parent’s ability to provide appropriate playtime with the child;

(vi) each parent’s history and ability to implement a flexible schedule for the child;

(vii) physical facilities of each parent’s residence; and

(viii) any other factor the court considers relevant.

(2)

(a) If the parties agree to or the court orders the equal parent-time schedule described in this section, a parenting plan in accordance with Sections 30-3-10.7 through 30-3-10.10 shall be filed with an order incorporating the equal parent-time schedule.

(b) An order under this section shall result in 182 overnights per year for one parent, and 183 overnights per year for the other parent.

(c) Under the equal parent-time schedule, neither parent is considered to have the child the majority of the time for the purposes of Subsection 30-3-10.3(4) or 30-3-10.9(5)(c)(ii).

(d) Child support for the equal parent-time schedule shall be consistent with Section 78B-12-208.

(e)

(i) A court shall determine which parent receives 182 overnights and which parent receives 183 overnights for parent-time.

(ii) For the purpose of calculating child support under Section 78B-12-208, the amount of time to be spent with the parent who has the lower gross monthly income is considered 183 overnights, regardless of whether the parent receives 182 overnights or 183 overnights under Subsection (2)(e)(i).

(3)

(a) Unless the parents agree otherwise and subject to a holiday, the equal parent-time schedule is as follows:

(i) one parent shall exercise parent-time starting Monday morning and ending Wednesday morning;

(ii) the other parent shall exercise parent-time starting Wednesday morning and ending Friday morning; and

(iii) each parent shall alternate weeks exercising parent-time starting Friday morning and ending Monday morning.

(b) The child exchange shall take place:

(i) at the time the child’s school begins; or

(ii) if school is not in session, at 9 a.m.

(4)

(a) The parents may create a holiday schedule.

(b) If the parents are unable to create a holiday schedule under Subsection (4)(a), the court shall:

(i) order the holiday schedule described in Section 30-3-35; and

(ii) designate which parent shall exercise parent-time for each holiday described in Section 30-3-35.

(5)

(a) Each year, a parent may designate two consecutive weeks to exercise uninterrupted parent-time during the summer when school is not in session.

(b)

(i) One parent may make a designation at any time and the other parent may make a designation after May 1.

(ii) A parent shall make a designation at least 30 days before the day on which the designated two-week period begins.

(c) The court shall designate which parent may make the earlier designation described in Subsection (5)(b)(i) for an even numbered year with the other parent allowed to make the earlier designation in an odd numbered year.

(d) The two consecutive weeks described in Subsection (5)(a) take precedence over all holidays except for Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.

 

Utah Family Law, LC | divorceutah.com | 801-466-9277

 

August 31, 2021Tags: custody law, divorce law, family law, joint custody, joint equal custody, Utah code, Utah law