Bill > SB663

This bill establishes a rebuttable presumption that joint legal custody and joint physical custody for approximately equal periods of time are in the best interests of a child in child custody proceedings, regardless of the parents' marital status or gender. The court may consider several factors in determining the best interests of the child, including the child's preferences, the distance between the parents' residences and the child's school, the flexibility of each parent's work schedule, and each parent's ability to assist with after-school care. If the court determines by a preponderance of the evidence that a joint custody arrangement is not in the best interests of the child, the court may award sole custody to one parent and must enter the factors considered in reaching that decision on the record. The bill also requires the court to award visitation in a manner that ensures frequent and continuing contact between the child and the noncustodial parent when joint custody is not in the child's best interests.

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https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Legislation/Details/SB0663?ys=2024RS