What Does the Court Mean by a “Child’s Best Interest?”

You may have had the final say on every decision concerning your child for their entire life thus far. However, this may unfortunately change when you undergo a divorce from your spouse and need the Tennessee family court to make a child custody arrangement on your behalf. With that said, please follow along to find out what the court means when it rules on a decision in your “child’s best interest” and how one of the proficient Clarksville child custody lawyers at Fendley and Birch can help ensure this is the case.

What does the Tennessee family court mean by a “child’s best interest?”

It is common for the Tennessee family court to award a joint custody arrangement if it believes a child will benefit the most from maintaining a close relationship with both parents after they legally divorce. However, rather than making this standard ruling each time, the court uses a holistic approach on a case-by-case basis.

In other words, it considers all relevant aspects of a child’s physical, mental, and emotional needs, along with other special considerations for their health and upbringing. Namely, it may evaluate the following before finalizing a parenting time schedule:

• Your child’s physical needs: access to food, clothing, and a safe living environment.
• Your child’s mental and emotional needs: access to feeling secure, loved, and supported.
• Your child’s special needs: access to healthcare for certain physical conditions and education for certain learning conditions.
• Your child’s developmental needs: access to age-appropriate opportunities for play, learning, and social interaction.

How do I prove my ability to meet my child’s best interest?

With all things considered thus far, to gain parental rights over your child, you must prove to the Tennessee family court that you can give your child access to things that help meet their needs. The best way to do this is by referencing how you have historically or presently worked in their best interest.

For example, you may share your financial records to prove that you have the financial means necessary to support your child’s daily living expenses, medical expenses, education expenses, and more. What’s more, you may emphasize that you were the primary caretaker over your child during your marriage, while your spouse took on greater responsibilities of working outside the home or other activities.

On a similar note, you may demonstrate your ability to maintain stability in your child’s life. This may be accomplished by owning a property rather than renting, to show that there will be no reason to uproot your child from the life they grew accustomed to at any point during your custody arrangement. It may be better if you remain in the family home your child has grown up in thus far, or at the very least, move to a property within the same neighborhood or school district.

If you have made it this far, please do not hesitate to seek further information from one of the talented Clarksville family lawyers. The team at Fendley and Birch is willing and able to guide you through your future legal processes.