How will a judge make a decision about custody?
A judge will make a decision about custody based on what s/he thinks is in your child’s best interest. The judge will look at any factor that s/he thinks is important to make this decision. According to the IN law, when determining what is in the best interest of the child, the judge will look at: • The age and sex of the child; • The wishes of the child’s parent(s); • The child’s preference for who s/he wants to live with, giving more consideration if the child is at least 14 years old; • The relationship the child has with his/her parent(s), siblings and any other person that might significantly affect the child’s best interests; • The child’s adjustment to his home, school and community; • The mental and physical health of all individuals involved; and • Evidence of domestic violence by either parent;* If before the custody case began, there was a non-parent who had been the primary caregiver and financial supporter of the child for a period of 6 months (for a child under age 3) or
