☰ Contents · In the Witness Chair
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Chapter 2 — How Custody Gets Decided
The audiobook of this chapter is part of the audiobook edition.
Every U.S. state decides custody using some version of the same standard: the best interests of the child. What that phrase means in practice depends on your state’s statute, your state’s case law, and the judge in front of you. This chapter is a general map. Your attorney will give you the specific one.
Most states list factors a judge must consider. The lists differ, but they overlap heavily. A typical list includes things like: