Bill > SB805

This bill modifies Missouri's child custody laws to establish a rebuttable presumption that equal or approximately equal parenting time is in the best interests of the child. The bill expands the factors courts must consider when determining custody, including the parents' ability to cooperate, minimize conflict, and share information about the child. It adds more detailed considerations about domestic violence, requiring courts to examine the nature and context of any violent incidents and their implications for parenting and child safety. The bill clarifies that custody decisions should prioritize frequent, meaningful contact with both parents, unless such contact is not in the child's best interest. The legislation also ensures that neither parent can be preferred based on gender or financial status, and requires courts to provide written findings explaining their custody decisions. Additionally, the bill strengthens provisions related to parents' access to child-related records and information, mandates specific language in custody orders about enforcement, and prohibits courts from adopting standardized default parenting plans. The overall goal is to promote cooperative co-parenting and ensure custody arrangements that best serve the child's wellbeing.

Justice

https://www.senate.mo.gov/25info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=6625988