Family Law- Child Custody Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the types of custody?

A

Legal custody- right to make major decisions about the child
Physical custody- right to make every day decisions for daily care and ctrl of the child
Joint custody: preferred status

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2
Q

What does joint custody entail?

A

o Applies to the majority of cases (often statutorily favored)

o Both parents must be willing and able to cooperate for the child’s best interest.
o Neither parent has a superior right to make decisions on behalf of the child.
o There is usually a procedure for resolving conflicts
o Not required to share time 50-50, but the child usually maintains a residence with both parents

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3
Q

Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA)

A

Uniform Child Custody Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act (UCCJEA)
applies to the determination of court jurisdiction in custody cases.

  • Purpose—prevent forum shopping regarding child custody and visitation
  • Determines which state can have jurisdiction, change it, or decline it
  • Under UCCJEA, the court must have subject matter jurisdiction.
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4
Q

What is the home-state jurisdiction?

A

Under UCCJEA this is the court that made the initial custody determination.
The law states that the homestate is where the child lived with a parent for six months.
If the child has moved, the home state will still have jurisdiction if:
It was the home state within the past six months AND a parent or guardian still lives there.

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5
Q

Significant connection jurisdiction

A

the second type of jurisdiction that will operate if
No other state is the home state;
o The child and at least 1 parent have “significant connections”
to a new state; and
o There is substantial evidence in that state concerning the child

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6
Q

Default Jurisdiction

A

Applies when:
o There is no court that has home-state jurisdiction;
o There is no court that has significant-connection jurisdiction; and
o A court in a state that has appropriate connections to the child

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7
Q

Temporary Emergency Jurisdiction

A

o A court can assume emergency jurisdiction if:
 The child is in danger and
 The child requires immediate protection.

o If a prior custody order exists, the new court must allow time for the parties to return to that prior court to argue the issues.
o If there is no prior custody order in place, then the emergency order stays in place until the home state changes it.

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8
Q

Exclusive Continuing Jurisdiction

A

Exclusive Continuing Jurisdiction
The court that made the initial rulings in the custody case continues to have jurisdiction until:
o The parties no longer reside in the state; or
o The child no longer has a significant connection to the state and no substantial evidence of the child’s condition continues to be available in the state.

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9
Q

Can a state that isn’t the home state enforce child custody orders?

A

Yes. To enforce the petitioner must
a. Registration of order
 Get a certified copy of the order.
 Register it with the new court.
 The new court can then grant relief under that order.

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10
Q

What happens when you ask the court to enforce?

A

The court will start the Expedited enforcement of a child custody determination:
The respondent must appear the very next judicial day after being served with an order, or
else the petitioner will be awarded immediate physical possession; unless:
 The custody order was not registered and one of the following exists:
* The court did not have jurisdiction;
* The order had been stayed or vacated; or
* Notice was improper; or
 The order was registered but stayed, vacated, or modified.

Due process

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11
Q

Best Interest and Welfare of the Child Standard

A

The standard for determining child custody
* Unless the parent is deemed to be _unfit, a parent is determined to be in the best
position to care for the child.
* There are no gender-based legal presumptions for custody in favor of either parent.

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12
Q

Which factors will the court consider when applying the Best interest and welfare standard during child custody determinations?

A

Who was the primary caregiver during the marriage and separation would be the first factor to consider but not the only one.

other factors:
Parents’ past sexual conduct if negative for child
child’s age
child’s preferences if mature enough
If there are other siblings court prefer not to separate.

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13
Q

FIt parent presumption

A

Legal parents presumptively get parental responsibility unles:
they are deemed unfit
It is detrimental to the child, or
the parent has terminated those rights

A fit parent is presumptively entitled over a grandparent to keep those rights
A fit parent’s decision must receive a “special weight” in their decision to deny visitation to third parties.

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14
Q

Visitation rights of non custodial parent

A

B. Visitation (Parenting Time)
* Parents have a constitutional right to see their child, but visitation must be in the best interest of the child.
* Typically, parents create an agreement as to the time, place, and circumstances of visitation.
* Denying non-custodial visitation is very unusual.
o Only allowed if it would “seriously endangers” the child
* Can require supervised visitation or place other time restrictions on visitation (e.g., restrict overnights)

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15
Q

Third party visitation rights

A

May apply to stepparents, grandparents or nonbiological co-parents
o Typically, only granted in cases of in loco parentis before the divorce

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16
Q
A

The majority of states have a statute regarding grandparent visitation.
 No state guarantees grandparent visitation.
 When a grandparent requests visitation that has been denied, the courts will look at:
* The fit parent’s decision;
* The conditions of visitation set forth in the applicable statute, and
* The best interest of the child.

17
Q

Which remedies can we apply for interference with a parent’s visitation rights?

A

Interference or refusal to comply with a visitation order may be remedied by:
o A change in custody arrangement;
o contempt proceedings; or
o Make-up time.

18
Q

Rights of the unwed biological father in custody cases?

A

Unwed biological father
 An unwed biological father has a right to substantive due process.
 To enforce visitation rights, the father must demonstrate a commitment to parenting responsibilities.
 If the mother is married to another man and refuses to join in a paternity action, the state may preclude the biological father’s paternity petition.

19
Q

Enforcement of foreign decrees

A

The Full Faith and Credit Clause allows for custody and visitation orders to be enforced,
if the original order was registered in the second state.
 Generally, the new court cannot modify the order unless:
* The prior court has denied jurisdiction; and
* The out-of-state party is given sufficient notice.

20
Q

What is the standard applied in modification of custody proceedings?

A

Most jurisdictions use the “change in circumstances” standard.
o The change in circumstances must be substantial and unforeseen when the final judgment was entered.
o Modification must be in the best interest of the child.
o The original state retains subject-matter jurisdiction.

o Some states impose a time barrier if there is no immediate danger to the child.
o Failure to pay child support is not a basis to deny visitation or to modify a visitation order.

21
Q

What are move away cases?

A

Also know as Relocation
 Some states place most weight on the best interest of the child.
 Some states give relocating parent the presumptive right to
relocate so long as the child’s welfare is not prejudiced.
 The relocating parent often has the burden to demonstrate a “legitimate and reasonable purpose.”
* Other states place the burden on the objecting parent to
show that relocation is not in the best interest of the child or will harm the child.
 Trend—to allow a parent to relocate, provided there is a legitimate reason

22
Q

What are the factors the courts will consider when examining a petition to relocate a minor?

A

 The court will weigh any factor that affects the best interest of the child, including:
* Potential involvement of the non-relocating parent with the child;
* Age and needs of the child (and special needs);
* Ability to preserve the relationship with the nonmoving parent;
* Child’s preference;
* Movant’s history of promoting parenting time;
* Enhancing effect on the child’s life;
* Each parent’s motive; and
* Any other factor

Note 7: If joint custody, then it is harder to relocate; courts protect the nonmoving parent more.

23
Q

When is parental consent necessary?

A

Medical procedures unless:
Emergency
Child is older and mature
Public health issues such as abortion, pill