How the Parent/Child Relationship Affects Child Custody in Virginia (Part A)
Virginia Child Custody Criteria
The criteria that courts and judges use to determine Virginia child custody include:
- The age and mental and physical well-being of each child and each parent;
- The existing relationship between each parent and each child;
- The needs of the child and the ability of each parent to meet those needs;
- The willingness of the parent to support the child's relationship and contact with the other parent;
- The preference of the child if the child is deemed mature enough to choose; and
- Any history of family abuse.
Parent/Child Relationships and Child Custody in Virginia
As you can see, the parent/child relationship is a primary factor in determining child custody in Virginia. The quality of a child's relationship with his or her parent is reviewed by the courts with the goal being to place the child in the most beneficial situation. Courts will also look at the parent/child relationship to determine whether the correct parent/child boundaries are in place. This means that even if you have an extremely positive bond with your child, the court will want to make sure that it does not cross the line into a peer or friend relationship.
Many couples with children who are going through a Virginia divorce are willing to work together to establish a custody scenario that is best for their children and also works for each parent. Often this results in one parent having primary custody and the other having shared custody on set nights, weekends and holidays. A Virginia child custody lawyer is a great asset in facilitating this process of negotiation.
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