When the court makes a decision, you’ve likely read or heard that the decision was made in the best interest of the child. But what exactly are the best interests of the child and how does the court go about evaluating them? A little bit of knowledge may help with understanding decisions made during a process such as a child custody.

Several factors are taken into account that affect the “best interests” of the child. One of the most important is the age of the child. Older children may have more of a say in which parent they would like to live with versus younger ones where the decision is made on which parent is better able to care for them.

Another that is considered is the child’s safety, perhaps the most important. If a parent is deemed to be a threat to the child, for example, chances are the court will not look favorably at that parent. The court will evaluate which parent can best care for the child, including their material needs, health care, food, etc.

This update is provided by the firm Rafool, LLC. We have a strong reputation throughout Florida and we have numerous years of experience representing clients involved in complex divorce cases as well as other family law matters. Should you have any domestic or family issue, we are here to assist you by providing educated advice and skilled, professional advocacy. Call 305-567-9400 to speak with a Miami family law lawyer or a Miami FL divorce attorney.

This information is provided for educational or informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. The information is not provided in the course of an attorney-client relationship and is not intended to substitute for legal advice.