Permanency Planning Virginia

Best Interests of the Child

Statute: Va. Code Ann. § 20-124.3 (Lexis, WESTLAW through 2000 Reg. Sess.)

Law:

In determining best interests of a child for purposes of determining custody or visitation arrangements including any pendente lite orders pursuant to law, the court shall consider the following:

The age and physical and mental condition of the child, giving due consideration to the child's changing developmental needs;

The age and physical and mental condition of each parent;

The relationship existing between each parent and each child, giving due consideration to the positive involvement with the child's life, the ability to accurately assess and meet the emotional, intellectual, and physical needs of the child;

The needs of the child, giving due consideration to other important relationships of the child, including but not limited to siblings, peers, and extended family members;

The role that each parent has played and will play in the future, in the upbringing and care of the child;

The propensity of each parent to actively support the child's contact and relationship with the other parent, including whether a parent has unreasonably denied the other parent access to or visitation with the child;

The relative willingness and demonstrated ability
of each parent to maintain a close and continuing
relationship with the child, and the ability or
each parent to cooperate in and resolve disputes
regarding matters affecting the child;

The reasonable preference of the child, if the
court deems the child to be of reasonable
intelligence, understanding, age and experience
to express such a preference;

Any history of family abuse as that term is
defined in § 16.1-228; and

Such other factors as the court deems necessary
and proper to the determination.

Concurrent Planning

Law:

Not addressed in statutes reviewed