Parental Rights After a Split

The court makes an order on parental rights and responsibilities for each minor child. It may divide or share them on terms that serve the child's best interests; when the parents cannot agree to share them, the court awards them primarily or solely to one parent.

• 15 V.S.A. § 665StatuteRights and responsibilities order; best interests of the childOpens legislature.vermont.gov ↗

• The court weighs the child's relationship with each parent and each parent's ability to give love, affection and guidance.
• It weighs each parent's ability to provide food, clothing, medical care and a safe home, and to meet developmental needs.
• It weighs the child's adjustment to home, school and community, and each parent's support for the child's contact with the other parent.

• 15 V.S.A. § 665StatuteRights and responsibilities order; best interests of the childOpens legislature.vermont.gov ↗