Bill > H1518

This bill aims to promote shared parenting in cases of divorce. The key provisions of the bill include: 1. Establishing a presumption of shared legal and physical custody of minor children, absent emergency conditions, abuse, or neglect. The court can only order sole legal or physical custody if it makes written findings that the child would be harmed by shared custody. 2. Requiring the court to maximize the exposure of the child to each parent, unless it is not practicable. 3. Allowing for modification of parenting schedules and plans if there is a change in the availability of one or both parents or a change in the child's developmental stage. 4. Removing the requirement that the court consider whether the child's living conditions adversely affect their physical, mental, moral, or emotional health when determining the child's happiness and welfare. 5. Clarifying that the failure to submit a shared custody implementation plan does not diminish the presumption of joint physical and legal custody or affect the child's and parents' rights to frequent and continuing contact.

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https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H1518