The court decides child custody based on what is in the child's best interests. In Ontario, Canada, the court will look at a number of factors in determining the child's best interests, including:
•each parent's ability to provide for the child's needs,
•the relationship each parent has with the child,
•your child's wishes, if he or she is old enough,
•if you have more than one child, the court normally prefers to keep them together,
•the court will try to minimise the disruption of the child's life (the status quo), and
•who the primary caregiver of the child was during the marriage
•time available to spend with the children (working hours, out of town trips)
•one parent's interference with the other parent's relationship with the children
•any special needs of the child.
•each parent's ability to provide for the child's needs,
•the relationship each parent has with the child,
•your child's wishes, if he or she is old enough,
•if you have more than one child, the court normally prefers to keep them together,
•the court will try to minimise the disruption of the child's life (the status quo), and
•who the primary caregiver of the child was during the marriage
•time available to spend with the children (working hours, out of town trips)
•one parent's interference with the other parent's relationship with the children
•any special needs of the child.