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Alabama child custody guide: best interests standard, joint custody conditional presumption, relocation notice rules, and how to modify an order under the McLendon standard.
Alaska child custody guide: 9 statutory best-interests factors under AS 25.24.150(c), no joint custody presumption, domestic violence rebuttable presumption, relocation, and modification rules.
Arizona decides child custody by the best interests of the child under ARS 25-403. Learn the 11 factors, parenting-time rules, relocation notice, and how to modify an order.
Arizona's Alec and Lydia Act (HB 2995) took effect June 22, 2026, adding coercive control, including GPS tracking and stalking, to Arizona custody law.
Arkansas presumes joint custody with equal parenting time under Act 604 of 2021. Learn the best-interests factors, how to rebut the presumption, relocation rules, and modification standards.
California AB 2789, signed Aug. 22, 2026, changes how courts notify parents of custody mediation and requires notice of the domestic violence separate sessions right. Effective Jan. 1, 2027.
California decides custody by the child's best interests under Family Code 3011. No 50/50 presumption. SB 599 (2023) bars courts from considering a parent's gender identity or sexual orientation.
California appeals court, Sept. 8, 2026: a family court cannot skip the section 3044 domestic violence presumption because another judge found it rebutted.
Compare child custody laws across all 50 states and DC: best-interests factors, legal vs. physical custody, joint-custody presumptions, and UCCJEA jurisdiction rules.
Colorado calls custody 'parental responsibilities' and decides cases by the child's best interests under CRS 14-10-124. No equal-time presumption. Relocation rules explained.
Connecticut decides child custody by the best interests of the child under CGS 46b-56. Learn about legal vs. physical custody, joint custody rules, relocation, and how to modify an order.
Delaware decides child custody by best interests under tit. 13 sec. 722. Learn about legal custody, residential arrangements, the 8-factor test, relocation rules, and how to modify an order.
DC child custody law explained: the rebuttable joint-custody presumption under D.C. Code 16-914, 17 best-interests factors, modification, and relocation rules.
Florida presumes equal time-sharing since 2023 (HB 1301). Learn how courts decide parental responsibility, time-sharing, relocation, and modification under F.S. 61.13.
Florida SB 1128 took effect July 1, 2026, giving unmarried fathers a faster path to establish paternity and requiring priority temporary time-sharing hearings.
Georgia has no joint-custody presumption; courts use OCGA 19-9-3 best-interests factors. Children 14+ may elect a parent. Learn custody, relocation, and modification rules.
Hawaii decides custody by the best interests of the child under HRS 571-46. Learn the 16 factors, joint custody rules, relocation rights, and how to modify an order.
Idaho decides custody by the best interests of the child under Idaho Code 32-717. Learn the 7 factors, joint custody rules, relocation provisions, and how to modify an order.
Illinois appellate court reverses a private guardianship order over a mother's objection, ruling permanency cannot override a strong parent-child bond.
Illinois uses 'allocation of parental responsibilities' and 'parenting time' instead of custody. Learn how courts decide best interests, the 2-year modification bar, and relocation rules.
Indiana custody law has no presumption favoring either parent. Learn the 9 best-interests factors, joint custody rules, the 30-day relocation notice requirement (with exceptions), and how to modify an order.
Iowa decides custody by the best interests of the child, using 'physical care.' Joint physical care is a request-based option, not a presumption, when joint legal custody is awarded.
Justice Kagan denied an emergency stay Sept. 22, 2026 in a California surrogacy parentage case. A stay denial is not a merits ruling and sets no precedent.
Kansas uses an 18-factor best-interests test for child custody. Joint legal custody is the statutory first choice but not a presumption; no 50/50 time rule exists.
Kentucky presumes joint custody and equally shared parenting time since 2018 (HB 528). Learn how courts apply KRS 403.270, the 2026 domestic violence provisions, and modification rules.
Kentucky's Court of Appeals denied foster parents' emergency motion to stop a reunification, ruling notice and a right to be heard under KRS 620.360 do not make a foster parent a party. The writ petition is still pending.
Kyra's Law passed the New York Legislature on June 5, 2026 and awaits Governor Hochul's signature. What the custody-safety bill would change, and its current pending status.
Louisiana Act 605 (HB 1239) changes joint custody law so physical custody "shall" be shared equally, effective August 1, 2026. Here's what changed and what didn't.
Louisiana presumes joint custody under Civil Code Art. 132. Learn how courts designate the domiciliary parent, apply 14 best-interests factors, and handle relocation.
Maine decides child custody as 'parental rights and responsibilities' using 19 best-interests factors. No 50/50 presumption. Learn the law, types, modification, and relocation rules.
Maine's Law Court held in Bickford v. Bradeen, 2026 ME 94, that the best interest standard, not strict scrutiny, governs religious custody calls.
Maryland custody law now has 16 codified best-interests factors (HB 1191, eff. Oct. 1, 2025). No joint-custody presumption. Learn legal vs physical custody, relocation, and modification rules.
Massachusetts child custody law uses the best-interests standard under G.L. c. 208, §31. Learn types of custody, the MCCJA (not UCCJEA), relocation rules, and how to modify a custody order.
Michigan uses 12 best-interests factors under MCL 722.23 to decide custody. Learn about joint custody, the established custodial environment doctrine, and relocation rules.
Minnesota decides custody using 12 statutory best-interests factors under Minn. Stat. §518.17. Learn about joint legal custody presumption, parenting time, relocation rules, and modification.
Mississippi Chancery Courts apply the 12 Albright factors to decide custody. Learn about joint custody rules, Miss. Code §93-5-24, relocation, and modification standards.
Mississippi HB 1662, signed April 8, 2026, takes effect July 1, 2026, creating a rebuttable presumption of equal joint custody. What it changes for parents.
Missouri presumes equal parenting time since 2023 (SB 35). Learn how courts apply the 8 best-interests factors, relocation rules, and modification standards.
Montana resolves custody through a parenting plan under MCA 40-4-212. Learn the 13 best-interests factors, relocation notice rules, and how to modify a plan.
Nebraska decides custody by the best interests of the child under the Parenting Act (§43-2923). Learn about joint custody, parenting plans, relocation, and modification rules.
Nevada conditionally prefers joint physical custody under NRS 125C.0025, not as an automatic default. Learn the 146-day rule, relocation requirements, and modification standard.
New Hampshire decides parental rights and responsibilities using best interests of the child. Learn the 2025 equal-parenting-time rules, joint decision-making presumption, relocation notice, and modification standards.
New Jersey decides child custody using 15 best-interests factors under N.J.S.A. 9:2-4 with no joint-custody presumption. Learn about relocation rules after Bisbing, modification standards, and parenting time.
New Mexico presumes joint custody is in the child's best interests (NMSA 40-4-9.1). Learn the factors courts weigh, the modification standard, and relocation rules.
New York decides custody by best interests under DRL 70/240 with no statutory factor list. Learn the Eschbach factors, Tropea relocation standard, and modification rules.
North Carolina decides custody by the best interests of the child under G.S. §50-13.2. No joint-custody presumption. Learn legal vs. physical custody, relocation rules, and how to modify an order.
North Dakota decides custody by the best interests of the child under NDCC §14-09-06.2, weighing 13 factors. No 50/50 presumption. Learn residential responsibility, relocation rules, and modification.
Ohio calls it 'allocation of parental rights.' Learn how courts decide shared parenting, the 10 best-interests factors, relocation rules, and how to modify an order.
Oklahoma custody law: the best-interests standard, no joint-custody presumption, the DV safety override, and how modification works.
Oregon courts decide custody on 6 best-interests factors (ORS 107.137). Joint custody requires both parents' agreement. Learn Oregon's rules on parenting time and relocation.
Pennsylvania custody law weighs the enumerated best-interests factors under 23 Pa.C.S. 5328 (Act 11 of 2025, eff. 8/29/2025). No joint-custody presumption. Learn PA rules and relocation procedure.
Rhode Island custody is decided by the Pettinato 8-factor best-interests test. No joint-custody presumption. Learn the rules, modification standard, and relocation process.
South Carolina custody uses 17 statutory best-interests factors under S.C. Code 63-15-240. No joint-custody presumption. Learn the rules, relocation factor, and modification standard.
South Dakota child custody law explained: best interests standard, no joint-custody presumption (SDCL 25-4A-26), 23 statutory factors, relocation rules, and how to modify an order.
Tennessee child custody explained: permanent parenting plan, primary residential parent, 17 best-interests factors (TCA 36-6-106, eff. 7/1/2025), relocation rules, and how to modify an order.
Texas uses 'conservatorship' and 'possession and access.' Learn the joint managing conservator presumption, Standard Possession Order, and best interests factors.
When a child traveling with one parent or another adult needs a consent letter, how the two-parent passport rule works, and how custody orders affect travel.
Utah presumes joint legal custody under Title 81 Ch. 9 (eff. 9/1/2024). Learn the best interests factors, relocation notice rule, and parent-time standards.
Vermont uses 'parental rights and responsibilities' instead of custody. Learn the 9 best-interests factors, the no-joint-presumption rule, and how courts decide.
Virginia weighs 10 factors under Va. Code 20-124.3 with no joint-custody presumption. Learn how courts decide custody, relocation rules, and modification standards.