1Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS | 800.394.3366 | Email: [email protected] | https://www.childwelfare.gov

Courts make a variety of decisions that affect children, including placement and custody determinations, safety and permanency planning, and proceedings for termination of parental rights. Whenever a court makes such a determination, judges must weigh whether the decision will be in the "best interests" of the child.

A review of State laws indicate that all States, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have statutes describing the factors that must be considered to ensure that decisions regarding a child's custody or placement serve that child's best interests.

Determining the Best Interests of the Child

WHAT'S INSIDE

Guiding principles of best interests determinations

Best interests factors

Best interests definition

1

To access the statutes for a specific State or territory, visit the State Statutes Search.

Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS | 800.394.3366 | | https://www.childwelfare.govEmail: [email protected]

STATE STATUTES CURRENT THROUGH JUNE 2020

Other considerations

2Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS | 800.394.3366 | Email: [email protected] | https://www.childwelfare.gov

BEST INTERESTS DEFINITION

Although there is no standard definition of "best interests of the child," the term generally refers to the deliberation that courts undertake when deciding what type of services, actions, and orders will best serve a child as well as who is best suited to take care of a child. "Best interests" determinations are generally made by considering a number of factors related to the child's circumstances and the parent or caregiver's circumstances and capacity to parent, with the child's ultimate safety and well-being the paramount concern.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF BEST INTERESTS DETERMINATIONS

State statutes frequently reference overarching goals, purposes, and objectives that shape the analysis in making best interests determinations. The following are among the most frequently stated guiding principles:

� The importance of family integrity and preference for avoiding removal of the child from his/her home (approximately 28 States, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands)1

� The health, safety, and/or protection of the child (21 States and the Northern Mariana Islands)2

1 Alabama, Alaska, California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming. The word "approximately" is used to stress the fact that States frequently amend their laws. This information is current as of June 2020.2 Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming3 Alabama, Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Washington, and West Virginia4 Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, and West Virginia5 Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Wisconsin6 Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Tennessee, Vermont, and Virginia7 Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, North Dakota, Texas, Vermont, and Wisconsin8 Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, and Virginia

� The importance of timely permanency decisions (19 States and the U.S. Virgin Islands)3

� The assurance that a child removed from his/her home will be given care, treatment, and guidance that will assist the child in developing into a self-sufficient adult (12 States, American Samoa, and Guam)4

BEST INTERESTS FACTORS

Approximately 22 States and the District of Columbia list in their statutes specific factors for courts to consider in making determinations regarding the best interests of the child.5 While the factors vary considerably from State to State, some factors commonly required include the following:

� The emotional ties and relationships between the child and his or her parents, siblings, family and household members, or other caregivers (15 States and the District of Columbia)6

� The capacity of the parents to provide a safe home and adequate food, clothing, and medical care (10 States)7

� The mental and physical health needs of the child (nine States and the District of Columbia)8

3Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS | 800.394.3366 | Email: [email protected] | https://www.childwelfare.gov

� The mental and physical health of the parents (nine States and the District of Columbia)9

� The presence of domestic violence in the home (nine States)10

In eight of these States and the District of Columbia, all the factors listed in the statute must be considered.11 For example, Illinois law provides a list of the factors that, within the context of the child's age and developmental needs, "shall be considered" in determining best interests. Similarly, the District of Columbia requires that courts consider each factor listed in its best interests statute in making such decisions. In the remaining 14 States whose statutes list best interests factors, courts making best interests determinations are directed to consider all relevant factors, not only those specifically listed in the statute.12

Three States also list factors that should not be considered in the best interests analysis. For example, Connecticut law states that the determination of the best interests of the child shall not be based on the consideration of the socioeconomic status of the birth parent or caregiver. Delaware prohibits courts from assuming that one parent, because of his or her sex, is better qualified than the other parent to act as a custodian or primary residential parent. Idaho does not permit discrimination on the basis of a parent's disability.

Statutes in the remaining 28 States, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands 9 Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia10 Delaware, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, North Dakota, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia11 Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Oregon, Vermont, and Virginia12 Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nevada, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin13 Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming14 Other States that address the issue of parent and/or child rights within their best interests statutes include Georgia, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, and Puerto Rico.

provide more general guidance and give more discretion to the courts to make best interests determinations.13 Under Alabama law, for example, courts are provided with a set of goals to "facilitate the care, protection, and discipline of children" who come within their jurisdiction.

In California and Iowa, a best interests determination for American Indian/Alaska Native children must include steps to maintain Tribal relationships and preserve the child's unique Tribal culture and values. When out-of-home care is needed, the child must be placed, whenever possible, with a family that can help the child maintain these connections, as required by the Federal Indian Child Welfare Act (P.L. 95-608).

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

Other factors that courts commonly take into consideration in making best interests determinations include the following:

� Federal and/or State constitution protections. For example, New Hampshire law provides that its processes related to reports of child abuse or neglect are to be carried out within a judicial framework that recognizes and enforces the constitutional and other rights of the parties involved. Pennsylvania's statute states that it shall be interpreted so as to provide a means through which parties are afforded a fair hearing and assured the recognition of their constitutional and legal rights.14

4Children’s Bureau/ACYF/ACF/HHS | 800.394.3366 | Email: [email protected] | https://www.childwelfare.gov

� The importance of maintaining sibling and other close family bonds. For example, Alaska law notes the importance of frequent, regular, and reasonable visitation with parents and family members when a child has been removed from the home. Florida considers the love, affection, and other emotional ties between the child and his or her parents, siblings, and other relatives to be important in determining the manifest interests of the child.15

� The child's wishes. Approximately 12 States and the District of Columbia require courts to consider the child's wishes when making a determination of best interests.16 In making this determination, the court will consider whether the child is of an age and level of maturity to express a reasonable preference.

15 Other States that address the importance of maintaining family and sibling relationships include California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin as well at the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands.16 Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts (when the child is age 12 or older), Michigan, North Dakota, Ohio, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Wisconsin

SUGGESTED CITATION:

Child Welfare Information Gateway. (2020). Determining the best interests of the child. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Children's Bureau.

This publication is a product of the State

Statutes Series prepared by Child Welfare

Information Gateway. While every attempt

has been made to be as complete as

possible, additional information on these

topics may be in other sections of a State’s

code as well as agency regulations, case

law, and informal practices and procedures.

This material may be freely reproduced and distributed. However, when doing so, please credit Child Welfare Information Gateway. This publication is available online at https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/systemwide/laws-policies/statutes/best-interest/.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Administration on Children, Youth and Families Children’s Bureau