Child custody laws aim to look out for the best interests of the children and award custody to the parent who is best able to meet their needs. Obviously, this is a complex legal area, and the courts are tasked with taking a number of different factors into consideration when making their decisions. Below, four of these factors are explained in more detail.

4 Important Child Custody Considerations in Tennessee

1. The Relationship Between Parent & Child

Courts want to ensure a child is placed in the most loving and supportive home possible. They will look closely at the relationship each parent has with the child. The love, genuine affection, and emotional connection between parent and child will be among the most important issues to the court.

2. The Stability, Health & Fitness of Each Parent

A parent must have the physical, emotional, and financial faculties to effectively raise a child. Courts will take into account each parent's health (both physical and mental), their income level, their capacity as a caregiver, and their ability to provide a stable home. Continuity, too, is crucial to a child's happiness and development, so courts may be reluctant to remove a child from a stable home environment in which they are safe and thriving.

3. The Child's Preferences

Younger children are rarely given an opportunity to express to the courts which parent they want to live with. But in many states, older children have this right, and the courts take the child's opinion seriously. In Tennessee, child custody laws state that a child 12 years old or older can communicate their preference as to whom they live with.

4. Evidence of Abuse

A safe environment for the child is a court's main priority. When making custody decisions, they will look at any allegations or charges of physical or emotional abuse, whether against the children, the former or current spouse/partner, or anyone else in the home of each parent. A parent charged with abuse will have a difficult time winning custody; at the most, they may initially be awarded limited or supervised visitation.

By understanding some of the factors that impact a court's custody determinations, you can be sure to give your child a supportive and stable home. Child custody law attorney Lauren Wilson Castles of Castles Family Law is here to help. She represents the Nashville and Franklin, TN, areas in all aspects of family law issues. Schedule a free, confidential consultation with a trusted family attorney by calling (615) 804-6086 or visiting her website.