Vermont Custody and Visitation Schedules - Laws About the Best Interest of the Child
The Vermont child custody laws are found in Chapter 11 of Title 15 of the Vermont statutes.
Within these laws, the state has set up guidelines for parents to follow as they made a custody and visitation schedule.
The most important standard that the state uses for the custody schedule is the best interest of the child standard.
This means that the schedule must be made with the child's best interest as the focus.
To help parents make a schedule that benefits the child, the law contains a list of factors that parents should consider.
Here are some of the factors that affect the best interest of the child.
Parents should think about these and incorporate them into the custody schedule.
1.
The child's adjustment to housing, school, and community and the potential effect of any change.
This is an important factor to think about when making the custody schedule.
Where the child lives, how often the child visits the other parent, the times and length of visits, etc.
all depend on what the child needs and how well the child adjusts to different circumstances.
Many parents find that it is best for the child to remain in the same school and in the same home.
Visits are then set up so the child can participate in the same school and community events.
If a child has no problem adjusting to new situations, parents can look at other options for the visitation schedule.
2.
The relationship of the child to any person who may significantly affect the child.
Chapter 11 includes this as one of the factors that affects the well-being of a child because a custody schedule can shift the amount of time the child has with other important people.
This includes siblings, grandparents, friends, etc.
Children still need to be around the people they love and who they have relationships with.
The visitation schedule should take all of the child's relationships into account to ensure that the child has contact with those people.
3.
The ability of the parents to work together and encourage the child's relationship with the other parent.
In almost all cases it is best for the child to have a positive relationship with both parents.
The state encourages the mother and father to work together to work out a schedule that everyone likes.
The parents should also encourage the child to develop a strong relationship with the other parent.
The parent who does so will be more likely to have custody of the child because they will come up with the best visitation schedule.
Within these laws, the state has set up guidelines for parents to follow as they made a custody and visitation schedule.
The most important standard that the state uses for the custody schedule is the best interest of the child standard.
This means that the schedule must be made with the child's best interest as the focus.
To help parents make a schedule that benefits the child, the law contains a list of factors that parents should consider.
Here are some of the factors that affect the best interest of the child.
Parents should think about these and incorporate them into the custody schedule.
1.
The child's adjustment to housing, school, and community and the potential effect of any change.
This is an important factor to think about when making the custody schedule.
Where the child lives, how often the child visits the other parent, the times and length of visits, etc.
all depend on what the child needs and how well the child adjusts to different circumstances.
Many parents find that it is best for the child to remain in the same school and in the same home.
Visits are then set up so the child can participate in the same school and community events.
If a child has no problem adjusting to new situations, parents can look at other options for the visitation schedule.
2.
The relationship of the child to any person who may significantly affect the child.
Chapter 11 includes this as one of the factors that affects the well-being of a child because a custody schedule can shift the amount of time the child has with other important people.
This includes siblings, grandparents, friends, etc.
Children still need to be around the people they love and who they have relationships with.
The visitation schedule should take all of the child's relationships into account to ensure that the child has contact with those people.
3.
The ability of the parents to work together and encourage the child's relationship with the other parent.
In almost all cases it is best for the child to have a positive relationship with both parents.
The state encourages the mother and father to work together to work out a schedule that everyone likes.
The parents should also encourage the child to develop a strong relationship with the other parent.
The parent who does so will be more likely to have custody of the child because they will come up with the best visitation schedule.
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