How will the court in Washington, D.C. determine what the best interest of a child will be in a child custody dispute?
A The relevant factors for assessing the best interest of the child include matters such as the following: the wishes of the child; the wishes of the child’s parents; interaction of the child with parents, siblings, and other individuals with whom the child has an emotional or psychological connection; the child’s adjustment to home, school, and community; the mental and physical health of all individuals involved in the custody matter; capacity of the parents to communicate and reach shared decisions regarding the child’s welfare; willingness of the parents to share the child’s custody; and prior involvement of the parent in the child’s life. Other factors will also be considered, but no one factor on its own will determine the best interest of the child in a child custody proceeding.
