How does the court decide if a child’s best interests are being met?

In California, when deciding child custody cases, the court must consider the best interests of the child. To do this, the court looks at the child’s safety, health, and well-being. The court will consider several factors to determine if the child’s best interest are being met. These factors may include the wishes of the child, the parents’ ability to cooperate and make decisions, the level of conflict between the parents, the preferences of the child, the relationship between the child and each parent, the stability of the home, each parent’s lifestyle, the child’s adjustment to home, school and community, any evidence of physical or emotional abuse, and any other factors relevant to the child’s best interests. Based on these and other considerations, the court will decide if the child’s best interests are being met. In some cases, the court may appoint an independent statistician or mediator who will evaluate the available evidence and issue a report indicating what is most likely to promote the child’s welfare. The court will consider this report as part of the decision-making process. Ultimately, the court will use its discretion to decide if the child’s best interests are being met, taking into account all of the evidence and relevant factors.

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How does the court decide if a child’s best interests are being met?

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